Holiday Foods That Stain Teeth

While it might be hard to swallow, here are some of those holiday favorites that could put a damper on your bright smile.

It’s amazing how fast everything seems to happen once September hits. Before you know it the kids are back in school. Then you’re carving pumpkins and picking out costumes. And in the blink of an eye you are figuring out holiday travel plans and the foods you are going to prepare.

While you may be busy planning the biggest meal of the year, you may want to factor in your oral health when you plan the menu. It might sound silly, but you wouldn’t believe how some of your holiday favorites could stain your teeth. Here are some of the biggest culprits:

1. Cranberry Sauce: This is certainly a staple for most people during Thanksgiving, but this festive-colored fruit bowl is just waiting to leave hard-to-remove stains from your teeth. Dark berries are one of the major culprits of a stained and yellowing smile, and cranberry sauce is no exception. If it’s just too hard to pass up the cranberry sauce, make sure to rinse your mouth out with water right away or brush your teeth immediately after you eat.
2. Wine: Nothing says holidays quite like passing around the cocktails. While wine might be one of the major purchases on your holiday list, you may want to consider a more smile-friendly alternative. Both white and red wines can cause serious dental stains, and white wine’s acidity has also been known to damage tooth enamel. If you can’t say no to a glass of wine, then we recommend drinking it over a shorter amount of time rather than sipping it, so your teeth aren’t exposed to the damaging beverage too long.
3. Fruit pies: The holidays tend to be a smorgasbord of fruit-filled pies. However, just as we mentioned with cranberry sauce, berries and dark fruits can stain teeth. Furthermore, the acidity can damage tooth enamel, which can weaken teeth. If you want to keep that beautiful smile but need something sweet, opt for chocolate or even pumpkin pie, which won’t cause the same stain problems that fruit will.

If you want to have a brighter smile for the holidays, then try to avoid these foods while gathered around the dinner table this holiday season. If you do, your smile will certainly be thankful.

However, if you’re actually looking to get a more radiant smile this holiday season, then you may want to consider teeth whitening in Burlington. We can give you that whiter smile you crave to dazzle at holiday parties or to improve your self-confidence. Call our office today to find out more about our teeth whitening system.