Five Foods and Drinks That Stain the Teeth By Dr. Degel on October 11, 2016

A husband embracing his wife from behind, both smiling to reveal their white, stain-free teethAt Astoria Dental Group, we offer all of the ingredients anyone could possibly require for a world-class smile makeover, including two of the most popular and effective professional teeth whitening treatments on the market: Zoom!® and BriteSmile®. These extraordinary teeth bleaching systems are safe and efficient, whitening teeth by multiple shades in approximately one hour, or around the time of the average lunch break. The results, however, can last for five years or longer, depending on the patient’s oral hygiene routine and lifestyle habits.

Of course, the best way to maintain newly whitened teeth is to avoid the foods and drinks that stained the teeth in the first place. Avoiding such foods and drinks is equally important for people whose teeth are naturally white and pristine, as it is always preferable to prevent damage to teeth than to treat it after it has occurred. As firm believers in the value of patient education, Drs. Clifford Degel and Carmen Every-Degel provide patients with information about foods and drinks that stain the teeth during consultations at their Queens, NY cosmetic dentistry practice. They have assembled some of that information in this blog article for your benefit.

For further information about teeth whitening and foods and drinks that stain the teeth, please schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Degel or Dr. Every-Degel today.

Five Surprising Foods and Drinks That Stain the Teeth

It probably won’t surprise you at all to learn that coffee, tea, red wine, and cola can stain your teeth - in fact, you’ll probably have difficulty finding a web page on teeth whitening that doesn’t mention these four staining agents specifically. There are other foods and drinks can stain the teeth, and some of these may surprise you:

  1. Citrus fruits: Although you may not think of oranges and lemons as being capable of staining the teeth, their high acidic content can badly damage the protective enamel layer, revealing the yellowish tint of the dentin layer underneath.
  2. Diet sodas of any color: Yes, colas and other dark-colored sodas, especially those with sugar (or high fructose corn syrup). However, even diet sodas - regardless of color - contain damaging acids that will erode your enamel and create holes in your teeth, causing your teeth to take on a yellowish hue and become more susceptible to other stains.
  3. Green tea: It isn’t just black tea that causes your teeth to become stained. Although green tea has many healthful properties, it is just as likely to cause stains as black tea. The difference lies in the color of the stain: while black tea tends to cause yellow stains, green tea mostly causes grey stains.
  4. White wine: Wine drinkers may be crying, “Say it ain’t so,” but one study suggests that, although it doesn’t cause stains per se, white wine may actually make existing stains worse.
  5. Popsicles: Popsicles may seem like a harmless indulgence on a hot day, especially those that are low in calories or even sugar free. However, the artificial colors used in many popsicles can become embedded in the enamel, quickly causing stains.

Learn More about Foods and Drinks That Stain the Teeth

To learn more about foods and drinks that stain the teeth, please contact Astoria Dental Group today.

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Doctors Carmen Every-Degel and Clifford Degel

Astoria Dental Group

Our doctors are widely recognized for their contributions to the field of dentistry. They are members of various prestigious organizations, including: 

  • Academy of General Dentistry 
  • American Academy of Implant Dentistry 
  • International Congress of Oral Implantologists 
  • American Dental Association

If you are ready to transform your smile with Astoria Dental Group, request a consultation online or call us in Queens at (718) 278-1123.

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