Chromogenic foods

Target your most repeated habits

First identify what comes up every day: several coffees, tea all afternoon or a dark drink always within reach. Choose one habit to change rather than overhaul your entire diet. For example, replace a break with water and keep the coffee for a set time, without continually refilling your cup.

Avoid prolonging contact

Do not keep a drink in your mouth or pass it between your teeth. For acidic drinks, especially avoid sipping for hours between meals. Drink water afterwards or simply rinse your mouth. Keeping a glass of water near your cup makes this gesture easy to repeat, without adding complicated care.

Keep Brushing as a Base

Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes with fluoridated toothpaste and a soft brush. Make these two appointments part of your regular routine rather than trying to brush after every coffee. Excessive pressure is no substitute for regularity; take the time to go over the different sides of the teeth and along the gums.

After an acidic drink or food, rinse with water and wait about an hour before brushing, according to advice from the American Dental Association. This expectation concerns exposure to acids: the simple fact that a food is colored does not automatically justify delaying brushing. Organize your break and meal accordingly.

Maintain a varied diet

The presence of pigments is not enough to make a food unhealthy. Cutting out all colored fruits and vegetables would be a bad way to deal with an aesthetic problem. Maintain a varied diet and focus your efforts on frequent habits that concern you. For alcohol, refer to the dedicated article: the color of the wine is only one aspect of the subject.

Remove deposits already present

If stains remain despite your routine, ask the dentist if cleaning and polishing is appropriate. The descaling treats tartar deposits; enlightenment meets another objective. Avoid recipes with lemon, vinegar or charcoal to strip teeth: an aggressive method can damage their surface instead of lastingly improving the smile.