Are you noticing a continuous decline in the color of your smile? Do your teeth no longer possess the gleam and shine they once did? Unsure what might be causing this change in your appearance? The answer may exist in the compounds found in the foods and beverages you consume. Known as tannins, a local dentist explains what they are, how they’re keeping you from embracing a beautiful, vibrant smile, and why teeth whitening in Castle Rock can be the ideal solution to help you regain a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.
What Are Tannins?
These naturally occurring, chemical compounds are found in many of the pigmented foods you eat and beverages you drink. While they tend to produce a bitter and highly astringent taste, they can work to minimize the potential for gum disease and infections within the mouth. However, this may come at the cost of your tooth color if you’re not careful. When consuming anything that contains tannins, it is advised that you rinse your mouth with water immediately following and continue to see your dentist for regular teeth cleanings every six months.
How Tannins Discolor Teeth
While tannins alone cannot necessarily stain your teeth, these small compounds can attach to sugars, proteins, enzymes, and carbohydrates found in foods and beverages. The outermost layer of your tooth, the enamel, is porous, which means it absorbs various substances quite easily, allowing everything from tannins, bacteria, and sugar to penetrate. As a result of ingesting highly pigmented foods and beverages, your tooth enamel can begin to erode, cavities can develop, and your teeth can become stained over time.
The most common food and beverages that contain tannins include:
- Coffee
- Tea
- Red Wine
- Berries
- Curry
- Citrus Fruits
- Soda
- Tomato Sauce
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Soy Sauce
How Teeth Whitening Can Help
While there are ways to combat the effects of tannins and prevent stains and discoloration (i.e., adding milk to coffee or tea to dilute tannins, limit sugar and starch intake), teeth whitening is a quick and effective way to change how you smile looks.
With the help of a trusted cosmetic dentist, you can pursue in-office or take-home whitening solutions. Should you wish to have a professional perform the treatment, you can expect to see drastic results in as little as one hour. Using high-grade bleaching gel, tannins that live on or below the surface can be quickly removed, leaving only a whiter, brighter smile behind.
Take-home whitening kits can help you achieve the same results, only it will likely take about 2 weeks to see a noticeable difference. You will wear customized whitening trays for a designated amount of time each day. At the end of the treatment, you should no longer see areas of discoloration on your teeth.
It’s important to remember that avoiding tannins altogether is impossible. However, there are things you can do to minimize exposure, and if you still need assistance to brighten your teeth, you can also count on a trusted dental professional to offer a safe and reliable treatment to help restore the look of your smile.
About the Author
Dr. L. Blaine Kennington opened Cowlitz River Dental in 2002. Since then, he and his team continue to provide patients living in Castle Rock with healthier, more aesthetically pleasing smiles. Offering in-office and take-home teeth whitening solutions, Dr. Kennington can easily remove stains and discoloration caused by dark-colored beverages or smoking. If you’re ready to do something about your dull, lackluster smile, visit our website or call (360) 703-9092.