When it comes to teeth cleaning, Toronto dentists recommend avoiding specific types of food and drinks in order to keep the pearly whites as flawless as possible. The biggest culprits are probably those you already suspect, but there may be a few newbies lurking as well.
COFFEE
This delicious morning beverage can stain your teeth with just one cup per day. Just as it stains your clothes if you spill it, coffee may also stain your teeth due to an ingredient called tannins. They are a type of polyphenol that break down in water and cause colour compounds to stick to your teeth more quickly, causing a yellow film to form.
When it comes to teeth cleaning, Toronto dentists recommend brushing teeth shortly after consuming the beverage, eating some fruit that contains lots of fiber or using a straw to sip. Also, it is a good idea to drink coffee black, because creamer and sugar cause the build-up to accelerate.
Drinking the beverage in one sitting also helps. Not only are you able to brush your teeth once you’ve enjoyed the beverage, but the build-up doesn’t get prolonged with small sips over the span of a morning or afternoon.
TEA
Surprisingly so, tea is an even worse staining agent than coffee. The tannins in tea are much more powerful, therefore causing more damage. Also be careful not to drink the beverage while it is very hot, especially coming in from the cold. The drastic temperature change can cause cracks in the enamel causing further damage. For teeth cleaning, Toronto dentists recommend using a straw to rid your teeth of the substance, as well as wiping your teeth or brushing them.
However, tea is not all bad for your teeth as it contains antioxidants that contribute to protecting teeth from erosion and cavities. The main culprits are the polyphenols that may cause cosmetic damage on the tooth and potentially worse damage if preventative measures are not taken.
RED WINE
Toronto dentists generally do not recommend alcohol, especially red wine. A glass of wine a day can suck calcium from teeth as well as give you a bad breath.
When it comes to preventative measures and cleaning teeth, Toronto dentists recommend having a glass of water accompany a glass of red wine.
The acid in red wine can soften the enamel, allowing for calcium to leech. The bubbles in beverages like prosecco or champagne are caused by carbon dioxide, which is also problematic for teeth. When picking between a glass of red wine and a glass of sparkling, the red may not be the worse choice.
CITRUS FRUIT AND JUICE
All citrus fruits are very acidic and can cause a lot of damage to the enamel of the teeth. A popular trend to drink lemon water for cleansing and general health is great in many ways but problematic for your tooth enamel.
The citric acid in lemons or limes will erode your tooth enamel quickly, especially if you have a habit of sipping lemon water and other acidic beverages throughout the day.
When cleaning teeth, Toronto dentists recommend swiveling clean water after the intake of acidic beverages or acidic juices, especially beverages with high sugar content. Drinking through a straw is always a good idea as well as brushing your teeth soon afterward.
CHEWY CANDY AND DRIED FRUIT
You’ve probably heard this before, but it is worth repeating. Consuming a ton of sugar can be very bad for your teeth cosmetically and when it comes to cavities. Anything sugary that lingers in your mouth exposing teeth to sugar and acids for extended periods of time isn’t good for your teeth.
The chewy candies can stick to the teeth during the process of chewing causing prolonged exposure of the teeth to the candy’s sugar and acid.
Dried fruits may appear safe hiding behind the innocent label or ‘fruit’, but they are deadly. The concentrated sugar (some fruits even have added sugar to further add insult to injury) and the chewiness of the dried fruit truly create a deadly combination.
Cleaning your teeth after enjoying the treats is very important, better yet minimizing intake of the candies and dried fruits is best, considering the lack of nutritional value these have.
ENERGY, SPORTS AND SOFT DRINKS
Speaking of little to no nutritional value, energy, sports, and soft drinks are pretty useless when it comes to nutrients. They are also bad for your teeth.
The carbonation and acidic content with the high levels of sugar create another deadly combination for your oral health. Sugar sticks to the tooth surface as plaque and the bacteria uses it to produce acid. Meanwhile, your teeth are also exposed to the carbonation that comes from soft drinks.
When thinking of solutions for teeth cleaning, Toronto dentists recommend staying away from these culprits if at all possible. Otherwise, the usual measures such as cleaning your teeth after consuming a beverage are advised.
VINEGAR
Vinegar is a substance that’s difficult to avoid. We add it to salads, marinades, and some even drink apple cider vinegar on its own to improve overall health. The pH level of vinegar is 3.075 which makes it more harmful than coffee, yet less harmful than lemon juice.
Consuming vinegar with oils or other products that help balance pH levels is a good way to prevent enamel degradation of your teeth.
If you have consumed vinegar in its natural state, however, while cleaning teeth, Toronto dentists recommend waiting a little while for the tooth enamel to recover before brushing or gargling.
ICE CUBES
The habit of chewing ice cubes is a bad one indeed. Shaved Ice or a Snow Cone with flavoured syrup may seem like the perfect treat on a hot day, but this seemingly harmless habit will damage your teeth.
Cracked and chipped teeth may result from excessive ice chewing, but tooth enamel damage is the more likely outcome. Continually exposing teeth to overly cool or overly hot items like ice or a very hot cup of tea will create extreme sensitivity for teeth in the long term as well.
