Well, Thanksgiving is just a few days away. You’re likely pretty prepared by now, ready for family and feasting alike. That said, try to be careful when Turkey Day arrives. There are many Thanksgiving foods that can stain teeth. As such, poor eating choices could discolor your smile amidst the fun. Still, your Temple dentist can help you avoid or fix that problem. Read on to learn how grins get stained, which Thanksgiving foods stain teeth, and how to treat tooth stains.
How Do Grins Get Stained?
Tooth stains can be either extrinsic or intrinsic. Each of these types has unique causes that typically don’t overlap.
Extrinsic tooth stains are the more common variety. Per their title, they form when your teeth get exposed to environmental factors. These can range from foods and drinks to plaque, tobacco, and more.
That being the case, extrinsic tooth stains are fairly avoidable.
In contrast, intrinsic tooth stains are rare. They usually start inside your teeth and affect a tooth’s dentin. For that reason, their causes include dental trauma, genetics, aging, and similar things.
3 Thanksgiving Foods That Stain Teeth
Truthfully, some Thanksgiving foods can cause extrinsic tooth stains. You should thus be careful of them once the feast starts. Otherwise, you might have a dark grin in your holiday photos.
In particular, watch out for Thanksgiving foods like:
Coffee
Coffee isn’t exclusive to Thanksgiving, but many drink more of it during the holidays. Sadly, this increased intake could lead to stained teeth.
If you didn’t already know, coffee is filled with tannins. These compounds can seep into your enamel and leave stains. Coffee’s various acids could then worsen the discoloration. After wearing away your enamel, your yellow dentin might be exposed.
Cranberry Sauce
In many families, you can’t have Thanksgiving without cranberry sauce. However, you should go easy on the fruity side this year. It may just darken your grin.
You see, cranberry sauce is dark-colored, sugary, and acidic. That means it can both erode and discolor enamel. From there, you’d have a purplish smile that’d unsettle your extended family.
Pie
Pies are practically a staple of Thanksgiving. Even so, exercise caution when eating them. The wrong kind could easily discolor your smile.
As it happens, blueberry and cherry pies cause stained teeth. They combine strong colors with acid and sugar. In doing so, they’d greatly increase the risk of tooth stains.
How Can You Fix Tooth Stains?
Of course, you don’t have to live with tooth stains. If you suffer any, simply visit a cosmetic dentist. They can brighten your smile with the following:
- Teeth Whitening – As a treatment, whitening removes tooth stains with a special bleaching gel.
- Dental Bonding – Using a tooth-colored resin, bonding hides tooth stains from view.
- Porcelain Veneers – Veneers are shells that can cover up stains and other smile flaws.
While the holidays are exciting, don’t forget: there are Thanksgiving foods that can stain teeth. So, remember the ones above in the coming days.
About the Practice
Dr. Richard Fossum is a dentist based in Temple, TX. Having earned his DDS from the University of Texas Dental Branch – Houston, he offers truly comprehensive dental care. His services span preventive, cosmetic, and restorative procedures, as well as emergency oral treatments. He and his team also take pride in being certified providers of Invisalign® clear aligners. Today, Dr. Fossum works at his self-titled clinic and is reachable on his website and by phone at (254)-778-3900.