4 Thanksgiving Foods That Can Stain Your Teeth

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of the year, full of family and fun. It’s also synonymous with delicious food! Tables are filled with the best holiday foods: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and so much more. These joyful times of enjoying meals with your loved ones cause a lot of smiles, so you want to keep yours bright this holiday season! Here are four common Thanksgiving foods to be mindful of if you want to reduce staining and keep your teeth luminous.

Cranberry Sauce

This Thanksgiving staple is certainly a tasty addition to turkey, but it can cause your teeth to become darkened. Cranberries contain pigments called anthocyanins, which cause them to have a vibrant red color, can attach to your teeth and stain them. Additionally, the acidity in the fruit can wreak havoc on your enamel, causing it to wear down. Enamel is the white and shiny outer layer of your teeth. If acids remain on it too long, they can cause it to deteriorate, thus causing a duller smile. If you can’t resist some cranberry sauce, you can simply rinse your mouth with water afterward to wash away any leftover particles that could stick to your teeth.

Berry Pies

Desserts are plentiful at Thanksgiving, especially pie! From pecan to pumpkin to apple, there can be a variety of choices. While you must be cautious of sweets due to their ability to cause cavities, there are certain pies that can stain your teeth more than others. Berry pies, such as blueberry and raspberry, are more likely to affect your teeth due to their richly pigmented colors and acidity. You can always opt for other available options, like pumpkin or apple. If you do partake in some berry pie, be sure to brush and floss afterward.

Balsamic Vinegar

Salads and different vegetables are often served along with the more calorie-laden choices at a Thanksgiving meal. While these nutrient-dense dishes are wonderful for your smile, the dressings can cause it to be less bright. Balsamic vinegar is often a popular dressing choice because it packs a punch with flavor and offers fewer calories than other options. But, once again, its acidity and dark color can stain teeth (see a theme, here?). If you choose to use it, you can always mix it with some olive oil to diminish some of the acidity.

What Can You Do If Your Teeth Are Stained?

Oftentimes, it doesn’t take holiday foods to start diminishing the brightness of your pearly whites. Regular habits like drinking coffee and wine, as well as a lack of consistent flossing, can affect them. But a bright smile is always possible! Professional whitening treatments offered by your dentist, like Opalescence BOOST, can lighten your teeth by as much as eight shades in one visit.

Thanksgiving is a time to smile brightly. With these helpful tips and regular visits to your dentist, your holidays will be filled with bright teeth and hearts!

About the Practice

Dr. Marco Caballeros and his team at On Point Dentistry serve the families of Frisco and the surrounding areas. He offers personalized care for you and your family’s oral health through a range of services, including preventive, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry.  As a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry (which only 6 percent of general dentists hold in the U.S. and Canada), he can help you achieve your smile goals throughout every season! To make an appointment, contact him through his website or call (469) 476-4092.