What you can’t eat if you want white and healthy teeth. From the dentist

Dental surgeon, periodontist, prosthodontist with more than 16 years of experience

What foods should not be eaten to avoid spoiling your teeth?

Initially, people have different enamel color. The natural color of teeth depends on several factors.

Genetic – it determines the color of the dentin, the hard layer of the tooth under the enamel, which forms its base. Dentin can be yellowish, brownish and grayish in color.

The degree of mineralization of enamel – it affects the ability to transmit light rays, which gives each tooth a distinctive shade. The thinner the enamel, the more the natural dentin color shows through. Next, enamel color is influenced by “acquired” factors.

In addition, different people’s teeth are colored with different intensities – this depends on the properties of the enamel. On a rougher surface the pigment settles better, while on smooth teeth it is more difficult for it to “catch”.

What foods stain teeth

Tooth enamel is constantly under “attack” of different kinds of dyes that get into the oral cavity. These are mostly colorants found in food and beverages. Especially in those that we consume on a daily basis: coffee and tea contain the strongest pigment, which can lead to darkening of enamel up to several tones. Wines also stain enamel.

Strongly pigmented products include berries: blueberries, blueberries, mulberries, pomegranate. In consolation, I will say that strawberries and raspberries are not so strong color enamel and they can be eaten without hesitation.

What is useful strawberries, one of the seasonal summer berries, told in the article.

What else can change the color of teeth

The strongest factor affecting the color of teeth is smoking. About its harm to health is well known.

As for the aesthetics of the teeth, smoking releases the strongest pigment, giving teeth a persistent yellow, sometimes brownish shade, which you often see in avid smokers. In addition, as a surgeon and periodontist, I can’t help but note that smoking critically increases the risk of periodontitis (gum disease). Therefore, compromising aesthetics for a smoker is not the main risk – it’s the loss of dental and gum health that is more to be feared.

How to keep your teeth white and healthy

In order to preserve the natural color of teeth, it is necessary to carefully care for the oral cavity at home. Hygiene products should be customized for you by a dentist. Only a doctor can assess the condition of hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity and prescribe the most effective and safe paste, brush, floss and additional hygiene products as needed (tongue scraper, tongue rinsers, irrigator, rinse aid and others).

Enamel color can be brightened in several ways. The first and easiest is professional clinical whitening. Modern whitening systems are not only safe, but also achieve the effect of brightening enamel up to eight tones. During the whitening procedure, you can simultaneously saturate the tooth enamel with useful microelements and thus strengthen it. For patients undergoing whitening, we always recommend deep remineralization of enamel.

The second and less obvious method is professional oral hygiene. This is a clinical procedure that includes removal of soft and hard deposits (plaque), polishing of enamel, air-abrasive treatment (airflow), and mineralization of teeth. After this procedure, the tooth enamel becomes smooth, glossy and achieves a brightening effect of up to two shades.

When exactly you need to brush your teeth in the morning for maximum effect, told in the material.