Summer is the perfect season to start forming healthier habits and create a brighter, healthier smile. And reducing your sugar intake is a great place to start! Too much sugar can be harmful to your teeth, causing cavities and decay that can wear away at your pearly whites. So this summer, increase your chances of getting the sparkling smile you’ve always wanted by taking small steps to reduce your sugar intake. Making small changes can have a huge impact on both the appearance and health of your teeth!

How Sugar Affects Your Smile

Sugar has a direct effect on your teeth and can lead to the development of cavities. When you consume sugary foods and beverages, it leaves behind a sticky residue that clings to your teeth. Bacteria present in the mouth feed on this sugar, producing acids as a byproduct that breaks down tooth enamel. Over time, this can lead to dental decay and cavities. In addition to cavities, sugar can also cause discoloration of your teeth by staining them yellow or brown.

Reducing Your Sugar Intake: Start with Small Changes

Making the transition to a reduced sugar diet doesn’t have to be painful or overwhelming. Start by making small changes, like swapping out sugary snacks for healthier alternatives such as fresh fruit and vegetables. This can help you cut down on your sugar intake without sacrificing flavor. Additionally, try to limit sweet treats to special occasions instead of eating them on a regular basis. And, if you do indulge in sugary snacks or candy, try to brush your teeth afterwards to help wash away the residue that could damage your teeth.

Types of Tooth Discoloration

Sugar isn’t the only thing that can stain your teeth. Certain foods and drinks such as coffee, tea, red wine, and berries can also cause discoloration. Smoking is another major culprit when it comes to tooth staining. The best way to prevent these types of stains is to limit how much you consume them. In addition to reducing your sugar intake, you can also try brushing or rinsing with a whitening mouthwash. The three most common types of tooth stains are extrinsic, intrinsic, and age-related stains.

• Extrinsic stains are caused by external factors such as smoking or eating certain foods and drinks.
• Intrinsic stains are typically caused by the use of antibiotics or too much fluoride and can be more difficult to remove.
• Finally, age-related discoloration is simply a result of natural wear and tear over time.

How to Get a Brighter Smile

The best way to treat tooth stains is by visiting your dentist for a professional cleaning. Your dentist can recommend the best methods for whitening and removing surface stains, such as professional bleaching or special polishing techniques. At Mountain Aire Dentistry, we offer Zoom Teeth Whitening. Zoom in-office whitening is a safe and simple process that uses advanced and effective methods to leave you with beautiful, long-lasting results. In most cases, this treatment takes about one hour, in which our dentist will perform the following steps:

• Clean your teeth
• Cover your lips and gums to protect them from exposure to the whitening material
• Apply a hydrogen peroxide gel to your teeth, and leave it there for 15 minutes
• Shine the Zoom LED lights over your teeth to activate the hydrogen peroxide, which will penetrate the tooth’s surface and dissolve discoloration and stains.
• Repeat the process of applying the whitening gel and shining the LED lights an additional 2 times

After you have completed your 3 15-minute whitening sessions, you can walk out of our office with a brighter, more confident smile! You will also receive instructions about how to care for your whiter smile at home, as well as a touch-up kit that will help your smile last longer.

How to Maintain a Brighter Smile

Once you have achieved the perfect shade of white, you can maintain your results with at home care. Brushing twice a day and flossing are essential for keeping your teeth clean and free from plaque buildup that contribute to discoloration. Additionally, it is important to limit sugary foods and drinks as too much sugar can cause decay and damage your teeth. Finally, you can make sure to visit your dentist twice a year for cleanings and checkups to keep your teeth looking their best.

Make an Appointment with Mountain Aire Dentistry

At Mountain Aire Dentistry, we offer a variety of dental services to help you achieve your brightest smile. We understand that your oral health and appearance are important to you, which is why we strive to provide the best care and attention possible. Our team of experienced professionals will work with you every step of the way to ensure that you get the results you are looking for. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and get started on your journey to a brighter, healthier smile!