Stains on your teeth

Food nowadays contains many substances which are bad for our teeth.  Soft drinks and some fruits contain acids and sugar.  Tea, coffee and smoking stain our teeth. Dentists advise us to brush our teeth at least 2 or 3 times a day! This is important, as adult teeth have to last a lifetime! Here are several things which are bad for your teeth.

Stains from smoking

Smoking does not actually make your teeth rot, but it does cause ugly staining because of the nicotine in the tobacco. These stains make it easier for bacteria and other harmful substances to get a hold on your teeth. This means that if you smoke you should clean your teeth even more often.

Fruit

However healthy fruit is generally, the acids contained in many types of fruit are very harmful to the teeth as they damage the enamel. Tooth enamel is the hard outer layer on teeth and molars that protects them from tooth decay. Acidic types of fruit such as oranges, lemons, apples and pineapples are bad for the enamel. You should never brush your teeth directly after eating these types of fruit as this will increase the harmful effect of the acid on your tooth enamel.

Soft drinks

Soft drinks are one of the worst sources of tooth decay that affects all ages. The acids and high sugar content in soft drinks are obviously exremely bad for your teeth. The acid and sugar softens the enamel and can result in tooth cavities. Rinse your teeth well with water before brushing. Here also, brushing your teeth directly after consuming a soft drink is ill-advised.

Coffee and tea

Coffee and tea will also cause discoloration. A nice smile will be greatly diminished by unsightly stains. It is therefore prudent, at least if you want nice white teeth, not to drink too much tea or coffee, unless you plan to have your teeth bleached now and then (but bleaching is also bad for your teeth). Added to that, fruit teas have a high acidic content that harms the enamel. Normal tea (without sugar) is not harmful for your teeth (apart from the staining).

Other products

There are, of course, many other things which are bad for your teeth. Wine, for example, can also cause staining. Any product with a high sugar content naturally encourages tooth decay. The best thing is to ask your dentist for his or her advice on how to keep your teeth healthy, and look critically at which products you consume yourself. Leaving out sugary foodstuffs will definitely reduce the chance of tooth decay, and don't forget to brush your teeth thoroughly 2 or 3 times per day.

Sources: www.todio.nl