Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year to gather with friends and family and enjoy a delicious meal, but the chemicals that cause dental stains don’t take time off for the holidays. Many traditional Thanksgiving favorites are heavy with pigments, tannins, and dyes that can leave unsightly stains on your teeth, and removing them may require special treatments from your dentist. Since it’s better to prevent problems than to have to deal with them, here’s a brief guide to how you can protect your teeth from discoloration during this annual turkey dinner.
Which Thanksgiving Foods and Beverages Can Cause Dental Stains?
Dark-colored beverages and sauces are the typical culprits behind dental stains, and sugary or acidic items can weaken enamel so it becomes more vulnerable to discoloration. A few feast items to watch out for include:
- Red wine: This beverage is celebrated across the world for its robust flavor and its subtle bite, but it is also rich with pigments and dyes that can cause purplish stains as well as acid that can erode the enamel.
- Cranberry sauce: This classic condiment is heavy with stain-causing agents.
- Balsamic vinegar: While this dark dressing is light and tasty, it can leave its mark on your teeth.
- Blueberry or cherry pie: Berries such as blueberries and cherries are heavy with pigments and tannins.
- Coffee: While many enjoy this beverage during the holidays, it can leave yellowish stains on your smile.
How Can I Keep My Smile Shiny?
Luckily, sticking to a few simple habits can help you minimize staining during Thanksgiving so your smile stays shiny and bright for years to come. These include:
- Moderation: It’s perfectly fine to enjoy Thanksgiving favorites such as red wine, cranberry sauce, coffee, and the like if you don’t overindulge in them.
- Staying hydrated: Drinking plenty of water while enjoying stain-causing foods can help dilute and wash away the pigments and dyes.
- Eating veggies: Crisp, snappy, fibrous veggies are tough enough to scrape teeth clean during chewing and soft enough to be harmless to the enamel.
- Excellent oral hygiene: Remember to brush, floss, and use antibacterial mouthwash every day to remove infection-causing bacteria, plaque, and food debris as well as stain-causing agents.
What if My Teeth Are Already Stained?
If your dental stains aren’t responding to conventional oral hygiene methods, professional teeth whitening treatment from your dentist may be the best way to put the shine back in your smile. Your dentist may whiten your teeth by administering an in-office procedure that takes about an hour or a take-home kit that you can complete over two weeks. These treatments deliver results that are far superior to those of store-bought teeth bleaching products and can leave your smile up to eight shades brighter.
About the Author
Dr. Jasmine King earned her dental degree at the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry and expands and refines her skills with continuing education coursework. She is proud to be a member of the American Dental Association, the Texas Dental Association, and the Fort Worth District Dental Society. Her Fort Worth office offers general, restorative, emergency, and cosmetic dentistry such as teeth whitening. To learn more about protecting your smile from stains, contact her office online or dial (817) 292-7488.