The last thing that most people think about when getting their daily dose of caffeine is the fact that your drink is directly staining your teeth. However, teeth whitening remains the most popular cosmetic dental procedure and those caffeinated products we all love aren’t the only culprits
One rule of thumb is that if it can stain a white t-shirt, it will probably stain your teeth. According to a recent article by the Journal of the American Medical Association outlining a recent clinical study, coffee and cigarettes seem to stain teeth at about the same rate but those aren’t the only culprits. Below are 10 culprits that stain our teeth, some well-known, and others which are quite surprising.
1.  Coffee
2.  Tobacco
3.  Tea
4.  Berries
5.  Cola
6.  Red Wine
7.  Balsamic Vinegar
8.  Tomato Sauce and Ketchup
9.  Chocolate
10.  Cranberry and Grape Juice
“Teeth whitening” refers to restoring a tooth’s surface or original color by removing dirt and debris as opposed to bleaching, which is when the teeth can be whitened beyond their natural color. According to San Antonio dentist, Dr. John Moore DDS, “White teeth are something that most of us start out with, mostly because of porcelain-like enamel surface. Tooth enamel, composed of microscopic crystalline rods, is made to protect the teeth from the effects of chewing, gnashing, trauma and acid attacks caused by sugar. Enamel is worn down over the years, becoming more transparent and permitting the yellow color of dentin, which is the tooth’s core material, to show through.” It is in the cracks of dentin that debris and stains fill which are removed during the teeth whitening process.
So how do we avoid staining our teeth when these common food and drinks make up a good portion of our diet? Maintaining general good hygiene can play a large part in avoiding staining but a bit of staining is inevitable since our diet consists of many dark-colored and acidic substances which is why many people resort to professional teeth whitening. Teeth Whitening treatments at Cosmetic Dental Associates are available to suit every budget, time frame and personality.