Keep white and bright in the winter!
Winter in Regina means warm drinks like coffee, tea, hot chocolate, maybe a little mulled wine? While all of these drinks are delicious and keep us feeling upbeat during the long winter, they can be detrimental to the overall health and appearance of your teeth. Our little tips can help you maintain healthy and white teeth without giving up all the holiday beverages.
Try to control the sugar
No surprises, many of the beverages we indulge in are laden with sugar. Overindulging sugar will not only cause decayed teeth, it will trigger other serious consequences such as weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease. Do you say yes to the whipped cream? Add a teaspoon or two of sugar to your coffee or tea? Or enjoy that glass of red wine? Of course you do! Life is too short not to enjoy the occasional treat, but it shouldn’t mean forsaking your dental health and beauty of your teeth.
Have strong and white teeth while enjoying some sweets
Awareness about what you are consuming is where it all begins. If you mindlessly sip on any of these drinks continuously throughout the day, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Not only do most beverages contain sugar, they may also be acidic and stain your teeth. Acidic drinks (include pop, drinks with lemon or lime flavouring, juices, etc.) eat away the enamel on your teeth. Using a straw when drinking, helps avoid direct contact with your teeth.
What you can do to combat the damage:
- Rinse your mouth with water after consuming sugary or acidic drinks but DO NOT brush for about 30 minutes. Acid softens the enamel, and if you brush immediately after consuming the drink you can hurt your teeth even more.
- Eat cheese. Cheese neutralizes acid. It’s also excellent to eat after a meal if you cannot get to a toothbrush.
- Brush, floss, rinse. Do we mention this in EVERY blog? (Yes, because it’s extremely important). Whitening your teeth will be effective only if you do the daily routine correctly!
Look at whitening options
We have both in-office and take-home whitening kits. Although you can try over the counter products, you will not get the same results. Only a dental provider can offer products with a higher content of peroxide. We recommend whitening every six months or so, depending on your desired shade and your oral habits. However, you don’t want to overdo it, as these products can create sensitivity. Enjoy the cozy times with a warm drink in winter, and then take a few minutes to care for those all-important teeth. You want them around for your lifetime (unless you don’t plan on smiling much or eating your favourite foods).
