When Thanksgiving comes around, it can be tempting to throw away your inhibitions and completely indulge in anything that comes your way. While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying yourself every once in a while, it’s also a good idea to know what you’re getting yourself into.
For example, it’s common for foods to crop up around Thanksgiving that can discolor your teeth, especially if you aren’t careful. Here are a few examples, and what you can do about that.
Thanksgiving Foods That Can Discolor Your Teeth
Most people are well aware of the drinks that stain your teeth, like coffee and red wine. However, there are also plenty of foods that can produce this problem. Typically, these are foods that are dark and acidic. These foods can erode the top of the enamel, which allows the darker pigments to penetrate deep into the tooth.
Some common examples:
- Cranberry Sauce
- Red Wine
- Gravy
- Berries in Desserts
- Balsamic Vinegar Dressing
- Dark-colored Sodas
- Dark Chocolate
How to Protect Teeth From Discoloration
Of course, you can potentially get away with eating some of these foods if you’re careful. Of course, eating these foods in moderation can prevent some of their negative effects from taking hold, and when you do eat them you may want to follow that up with thorough brushing.
What to Do If Your Teeth Darken
If you start to notice that your teeth aren’t the color that you’d like them to be, there are things you can do in order to brighten your smile.
First of all, whitening toothpaste can do a lot to brighten people’s smiles, especially if you make use of them consistently.
If you want something faster, you may also be interested in teeth whitening. Making use of these treatments can give you a smile up to eight shades whiter, which means that you can undo all the damage you did during the Thanksgiving season.
About Our Practice
At Galleria Dentistry, we’re a family practice that likes to share that comfortable, personable atmosphere with our patients. No matter who you are, we take the time to understand your individual needs and craft a treatment plan customized to you. All that to say that when you come to our office, you’ll find a group of professionals ready to welcome you to your new dental home!
If you have any questions about how to keep your teeth shining, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (239) 592-5112.