Not only can sugary beverages like soda leave your teeth vulnerable to decay, this type of beverage can cause an unsightly yellow tint to your teeth, which may make you too embarrassed to smile freely.
Teeth whitening lets you achieve a brighter smile by bleaching away these stains, but you can also reduce your consumption of soda to avoid dingy teeth.
Staining from soda is mainly caused by two substances, phosphoric acid and chromogens. Phosphoric acid is added to soda for flavoring purposes. Although this ingredient is largely responsible for the flavor of soda as we know it, phosphoric acid weakens your tooth enamel – the protective layer on the surface of your tooth. Teeth with weakened enamel are more susceptible to the stain-causing ingredients of various foods and beverages.
Chromogens give cola its color. Chromogens stain your teeth. When your tooth enamel has been eaten away by phosphoric acid, chromogens can easily cause a yellow, dingy tooth appearance.
You can prevent teeth stains from soda by:
- Reducing or eliminating the beverage from your diet.
- Using a straw to prevent contact between the soda and your teeth.
- Thoroughly rinsing your mouth with water after drinking soda.
- Drinking soda within a short period of time and then rinsing, instead of sipping slowly over an extended period of time.
Porcelain veneers and teeth whitening are cosmetic dentistry options improving the appearance of stained teeth.
If you are interested in teeth whitening and live in Washington, D.C. or Northern Virginia, including Tysons Corner, Fairfax, Arlington, and Alexandria, please contact Softouch Dental Care to schedule a consultation.
