It is incredibly important to be aware of what foods you eat, as many may be causing tooth decay, gum disease and sensitivity in the mouths of many patients from South Dublin.

The Usual Suspects

Several popular drinks, such as tea and coffee, are particularly common offenders, with black tea being one especially nasty customer. Red wine and cola not only stain but also erode the enamel. Cola, when served chilled, also causes tooth enamel to become more vulnerable and thus susceptible to staining. Soy sauce not only contains powerful discolouring agents but also sticks to the teeth, allowing staining pigments to leech deeper into them. The herbs and spices used in most curries are powerful staining agents, as are sweets and berries. The list hardly stops here but, for the sake of brevity, I think I will.

Counter-attacks

So, what can one do about this? Well, drinking tea through a straw is one option, but what if the damage is already done? Superficial blemishes can be handled by specialist toothpaste or a hygiene appointment with your dentist, but deeper, embedded stains will require teeth whitening treatment. ‘Teeth whitening’ uses a peroxide-based bleaching gel which penetrates the tooth surface and cleans the teeth.

However, in very extreme cases, even teeth whitening might not be effective. In these circumstances, dental veneers are viable option. Veneers are thin shells of material that are bonded to the front of the teeth, the shade of which can be selected to give the impression of a pearly smile. Veneers come in two forms – porcelain and composite. If you are going for a full smile makeover, porcelain is the optimal choice, it being more durable. Porcelain veneers require a minor re-shaping of the mouth, however, so composite veneers are preferable if you only need a few teeth re-coloured and wish to retain more of your natural mouth structure.