Summertime is the best time for relaxing at a barbecue with friends and family, making memories while you savor the delicious tastes of summer. But you might want to think twice when reaching for this common condiment if you want to keep your smile summer white!
Hold the…
If you want to keep your teeth clean and white, it’s best to avoid adding ketchup to that hot dog or hamburger from the grill. Not only are tomato-based sauces and ketchup a color more responsible for staining but they are also acidic and can leave your teeth vulnerable to staining.
Would You Like Wine with Your Meal?
You might not be surprised to hear that red wine is a common tooth stain culprit but did you know white wine can be just as harmful? Just like tomato-based sauces and ketchup, white wine is extremely acidic. And even though it doesn’t have the dark hue we often associate with the normal beverages we blame for staining like coffee or red wine, the acid eats away at tooth enamel, leaving it with rough spots and grooves that are susceptible to staining.
Avoid the Stain
Outside of that sneaky white wine, a good general rule of thumb is if a food or beverage would leave a stain on a white shirt, it can also stain your teeth. You still want to enjoy the foods and drinks that are your favorites so consider ways to minimize the effects of their staining potential by rinsing your teeth with water after eating or drinking. The acidic nature of these two summertime culprits can weaken tooth enamel so it’s best to wait 30 minutes before brushing.
No matter how hard you brush and avoid staining your teeth, though, there will be some amount of staining that is just unavoidable. We provide ZOOM teeth whitening service here at Family Laser & Cosmetic Dentistry to help keep your teeth white, even after Labor Day when the summer fun end!
