Keeping Your Teeth Winter White This Holiday Season in Clayton, NC
The winter can be a lovely time of holiday parties, visiting family and friends and sipping on tasty warm beverages. Unfortunately plenty of these warm beverages stain our teeth. And the not so warm beverages being served at the holiday party… think red wine and whiskey cokes, are also staining beverages. So how do you combat this? We don’t expect you to NOT grab that gingerbread spiced latte or pass up the glass of cabernet. Instead Clayton Individualized Dentistry has come up with tips on how to enjoy your warm beverages and cocktails throughout the winter while keeping your pearly whites protected.
Drink Through a Straw
Coffee, lattes, soda and black tea can all be sipped through a straw to reduce the amount of contact the beverage has with your teeth. When sipping try not to swish the liquid around the mouth and teeth. We know this may not be the most ideal as you may feel silly but it can really do wonders. And as silly as it may feel at first, we think it’s better than stained and yellowing teeth.
Sip Water
Anything you drink or eat that could be teeth staining should have water sipped between. Red wine and even chocolate can stain your teeth. While you enjoy a glass of red wine, take a sip of water between to help rinse away the wine on your teeth.
Brush & Floss
The longer a stain sits on your teeth the more damage the stain can do to your teeth. Brushing about thirty minutes after you eat or drink can help wash away the stains sitting on your teeth. We suggest waiting the thirty minutes due to enamel damage from the acidic drinks softening your teeth. Also, don’t forget to floss! Plaque attracts stains. Often people who don’t floss will notice staining around the surfaces of their teeth.
Chew Sugar-Free Gum
Once you are done having your morning coffee or done with the wine at dinner, chew sugar-free gum. Sugar-free gum helps with the production of saliva which helps wash away stains and fight plaque.
Teeth Whitening Products
Use whitening toothpaste and mouthwashes with the American Dental Association seal of approval. Also over the counter or professional teeth whitening services are excellent choices for those that are seeing staining and often drink staining beverages. If you believe your teeth are highly stained and you would like, talk to your cosmetic dentist in Clayton, NC about porcelain veneers.
Contact Clayton Individualized Dentistry for professional teeth whitening in Clayton to keep your pearly whites shining this winter!