Toothpaste brands do a great job selling “whitening” products. Anything from strips and gels to toothpastes and trays that claim to bring you noticeably whiter teeth in two weeks, ten days or even one hour. I’ve tried the strips before and believe they helped, or at least that’s what I tell myself.
Whether you use an at-home whitening agent or have your dentist whiten your teeth to make them look healthier, it’s good to know what foods may cause discoloration, and damage the health of your teeth.
The American Dental Association shares this list of foods and drinks that can damage your teeth:
- Hard candies: high sugar content, hard surface can both cause problems
- Caffeinated beverages: coffee and tea can dry out your mouth
- Sticky foods: dried fruit
- Crunchy foods: potato chips and other crunchy snacks can get stuck between teeth
- Sodas: acidic, sugary and caffeinated sodas
- Sports drinks: high sugar content
- Alcohol: can dry the mouth
Bottom line ““ if you’re looking for a thirst-quenching beverage that’s good for your teeth, grab an ice cold glass of water or milk!
