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Does alcohol stain teeth?

Does Alcohol Stain Teeth?

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There are lots of foods and drinks that can cause discoloration on your teeth. While most of the time this can be brushed away, those lingering spots will start to stain. What about some of those darker-colored drinks? Does alcohol stain teeth as bad as tobacco or tea leaves? The answer is yes, but it also depends on your oral health. Alcohol and sugary drinks will stain your teeth more and more over time. This can be treated with fast and effective teeth whitening in Anaheim procedures. Keep reading to learn about the drastic effects alcohol can have on your oral health.

Why Teeth Get Stained

In order to figure out whether alcohol can severely stain your teeth, it is important to understand what is responsible for tooth stains in the first place. The biggest causes of tooth stains include:
  • Tobacco
  • Tomatoes
  • Berries
  • Tea
  • Wine
  • Soy sauce
  • Soda
What do all of these things have in common? Darker colors. Sugars, dyes, and deep pigmentations all contribute to tooth stains. Other causes of discoloration on the teeth may include physical trauma and adverse reaction to medications.

Does Alcohol Stain Teeth?

Alcohol is not just bad for your teeth because of its tendency to cause discoloration. It also adds high amounts of sugar to your teeth, which could cause an excessive buildup of bacteria. In fact, those who drink alcohol have higher plaque levels than those who drink it less. An increased buildup of plaque alongside severe staining makes alcohol one of the biggest culprits of tooth discoloration. But why exactly do the teeth stain the way that they do?

Chromagen Discoloration

Chromagens are chemicals inside of colored beverages that make them the color that they are. When you drink beverages of different colors, these chromagens stick onto the surface of your teeth. When they are not brushed or scraped off right away, they tend to leave a stain on your enamel. Mixing alcohol with other dark-colored drinks, like sodas and juices, makes a recipe for even deeper discoloration. Not to mention, all of that extra sugar could build up plaque and lead to a fast-growing infection.

How to Reverse the Effects of Discoloration

If you have been enjoying your favorite cocktail for a while and you haven’t realized the effect alcohol may have on your teeth, don’t worry! There are still plenty of treatment solutions available. At My Anaheim Dentist, you can learn more about our thorough teeth whitening options for a clean and beautiful mouth.

How Tooth Whitening Works

Our procedure is simple, pain-free, and effective. We will use a whitening bleach on the surface of your teeth, which will then be applied with a light. The procedure takes no more than 30 minutes and guarantees great results for years to come. This is an innovative way to lift the stains right off of your teeth so you can restore your pearly whites back to their former glory. It is not always apparent how much the food and drinks we consume can stain our teeth, but a tooth whitening procedure can put into perspective the importance of a good daily oral hygiene routine.

Lift the Stains from Your Teeth ASAP!

There are many different types of foods and drinks that can discolor your teeth over time, but alcohol is one of the biggest offenders. If you drink regularly, it is important to keep an eye on your oral health to prevent a buildup of plaque, discoloration, and even infection. If you are looking to learn more about how teeth whitening can restore your mouth to good health, schedule an appointment with our top Anaheim dentist today!