Nowadays, one of the most common dental procedures performed is teeth whitening, which is one of the less invasive cosmetic dental treatments. Nevertheless, it is extremely popular, and for good reason too. A bright smile radiates beauty, confidence, and health. It can make the difference between making a good impression and a poor one. You may also enjoy better self-esteem if your smile looks great. After all, if you are confident that you look great, you will feel great as well.

Now, maintaining that shiny smile can take some work, especially if you aren’t careful of what you eat. To help you out, we’ve made a small list of common foods that can stain your teeth and cause it to look less great.

Coffee

Some people swear by coffee. It helps them get up in the morning and remain alert through the day. It’s a wonderful drink that provides you with energy when you need it. Unfortunately, it’s less great for your teeth, as the contents can stick to your teeth and stain it over time. That being said, there’s no need to abstain yourself from coffee. Just remember to rinse out your mouth with water after you’re finished drinking. If you’re someone who sips coffee throughout the day, switch to drinking it all at once, so you aren’t consistently exposing your teeth to the staining effects of coffee throughout the entire day.

Sweets

It’s pretty stereotypical for dentists to say that sweets are bad for your teeth, but they can be. When consumed, sugar sticks to your teeth, drawing bacteria to it. When bacteria consumes it, the product left over is acid, which attacks your teeth’s enamel. Over time, this can cause your teeth to yellow, as the inner layer of dentin (which is more yellow in color) is exposed.

Soda

We’ve touched on sugar and acid as both elements that can damage your teeth. Combined together, they are double-trouble for your teeth. In soda, you get both in large doses, making it horrible for your teeth. That being said, you don’t have to give it up completely, but keep it to small doses, preferably when you’re having a meal so that the amount of time you’re exposed to its effects is minimized. Rinse out your teeth after you’re finished eating to clean away any of the soda.

Even if your teeth is stained, you can still get professional teeth whitening done at your local dentist. In addition, our cosmetic dental options can help even if you have worse teeth troubles.

La Vita Dental Centre is located in Kitsilano.