There are varying types of coloured drinks that we consumed and not all have the tendency to leave permanent stains on our teeth. But regular consumption of certain drinks can actually leave discoloration on your dental if certain steps are not taken due to accumulation. For instance, Coffee and Red wine. You drink coffee in the mornings and wine in the evenings say everyday three times a week in the case of red wine. Bruh! You cannot escape having stained dental. This doesn’t happen a day. It’s a process.
We need to pay more attention to our Dental health. There are some common habits that harm dental like chewing on ice cubes/blocks after drinking, in between drinking. This is a habit that weakens the teeth as well as numbs it. How about grinding the teeth against each other? It’s another common habit that some do when stressed, nervous or even habitual. Some do not know that Piercing the tongue/accessorizing the mouth in different ways makes the mouth prone to infections as well as causing create oral complication. I am sure many of us are aware of Chewing sweet (candy) gums, including ‘sweet drugs’ cause cavities and may degenerate and damage the teeth and gums. It’s a no brainer.
Basically, there are many common lifestyle habits that are harmful to our dentition way more than the obvious and part of these habits are colored drinks such as coffee and red wine even our native concoction (agbo) including teas of all colors, (even white tea, have been shown to stain teeth and erode enamel. Sports drinks can also damage tooth enamel and discolor teeth. Both light and dark sodas can cause stains because of their acidity. They can all cause discoloration and even encourage further staining from foods just by becoming embedded in the cracks and ridges of the teeth and break down the teeth especially if you are the type that doesn’t drink plenty of water nor floss properly.
Coffee and red wines are highly acidic and can break down teeth. Red wines are known for staining the teeth). Meanwhile these two (coffee and red wine) are beloved beverages by many; they are notorious for staining the teeth. Tooth stains from coffee are caused by numerous polyphenols found in coffee which adhere to the outside of your teeth. Our enamel begins to break down at a PH level of 5.5 and coffee has a PH level of 6.3 according to a research on Dentistry
Here are 4 out of the many dentists provided tips for preventing took discolouration /tooth decay without cutting down on your favourite coloured drinks (or foods).
Sip through a straw: Using a straw when drinking beverages to keep stain-causing dyes away from your teeth. It may sound weird but sipping coffee through stir stick (from the coffee shop) or red wine through a straw reduces the amount of liquid with which your teeth come in contact. You may feel silly drinking hot beverages this way but why not reserve it for when it colder in case you find yourself in meeting arena. Make sure to use a lid, but not a mug for coffee.
Drink Water between Beverages
You do not have to brush right after drinking. We all know water is good for overall health. Now imagine how much it will help wash away dark liquids from the teeth. Apart from being a bonus to making your beverage last longer, drinking water between beverages that stain will help wash away dark liquids from the teeth and keep them from settling. You can actually alternate a sip of coffee, tea or hot chocolate with a sip of water rather than sipping constantly. If you are not this patient, you can drink water or rinse your mouth out with water immediately after finishing your coffee or wine because the longer the liquid sits on your teeth, the more intense the staining will be. You may not enjoy drinking a fine red wine this way, but overall you can limit your exposure.
Chew sugar-free gum: Apart from whitening products such as toothpastes and mouthwashes. You can ask for Sugar-free gum if you frequently drink dark beverages. Sugarless gum has been scientifically proven to protect teeth by producing saliva that washes away plaque and acid.. Sugar-free gum produces saliva to help keep your mouth fresh and clean. If you chew sugar free gum, it will promote saliva in the mouth five minutes after drinking or eating. It is one of the ways to treat your teeth from stains
Floss
This one doesn’t really apply to drinking except you are the type that use toothpick after drinking water like my late grandfather. Flossing in this context is just for the general oral health sake. I bet we don’t have patience for flossing in this part of the world. We don’t it here in Nigeria except we have lived abroad and we return home, then it becomes a part of us. Flossing is essentially cleaning in between your teeth which in the end help you against tooth decay. When you floss properly, you remove leftover foods from places toothbrush can’t reach as brushing everyday doesn’t guarantee clean set of teeth. Not flossing could lead to stains in between the teeth even if you brush regularly. Never go a day without getting rid of trapped food to guide against plagues and decay. You can find out on how to so it right.
CONCLUSION
If you could follow some of these steps, you may be able to conserve your pearly whites without limiting your intake of these beverages will benefit both your oral and overall health. Remember, plaque attracts stains. Reducing plaque in general will reduce staining. Be sure to visit your dentist whether you drink teeth-staining drinks or not to whiten your teeth occasionally. Dentists have got both the right tools and the manual for a more professional oral health.
