If you enjoy drinking coffee on a daily bases it could be hard to maintain white teeth. Coffee’s dark color and acidity can cause yellowing of the teeth over time. Fortunately, it is one of the easiest stains to treat with various whitening methods. Talk to your dentist if you are concerned about discoloration of your teeth. Another tip is to drink your coffee though a straw to limit contact on your teeth.

Often times people chew on their pencil when concentrating on work or studies? However, crunching on ice, this bad habit can cause teeth to chip or crack. Sugarless gum is a better option when you feel the need to chew. It will trigger the flow of saliva, which can make teeth stronger and protect against enamel-eating acids.

You might want to floss your teeth after eating potato chips or other starchy foods that tend to get stuck in the teeth. The bacteria in plaque also break down starchy foods into acid. This acid can attack the teeth for the next 20 minutes, even longer if the food is stuck between the teeth or you snack often.

Amalgam a common filling material used to repair cavities. The material, also known as “silver fillings,” contains mercury in combination with silver, tin, copper, and sometimes zinc.  Amalgam is normally the lest costly filling option available, but normally it is not used for teeth that are in the smile zone.

Fruit juice is loaded with vitamins and antioxidants and has some good overall health benefits, but unfortunately most juices are also loaded with sugar. Some juices can have as much sugar per serving as soda. For example, there are only 10 more grams of sugar in orange soda than in orange juice. Fruits are naturally sweet, so look for juice that has no added sugar. You can also reduce the sugar content by diluting juice with some water.

When it comes to added sugar candy is not the only culprit. Many sodas have up to 11 teaspoons of sugar per serving. In addition sodas also contain phosphoric and citric acids, which eat away at tooth enamel. You are not all that much safer with diet soda either. Diet soda lets you skip the sugar, but they may have even more acid in the form of the artificial sweeteners.

Binging and purging (bulimia nervosa) can do even more damage to dental health. The strong acids found in vomit can erode teeth, making them brittle and weak. These acids also cause bad breath. Bulimia can lead to a variety of serious health problems, so be sure to talk to your doctor if you have been purging.

All sugary treats can promote tooth decay, however some candies are worse then others. Gummies candies tend to stick on and in between teeth, keeping the resulting acids in contact with your tooth enamel for hours. We are not saying you can not eat gummy candy but if you do be mindful of this fact. Make sure to brush and floss extra well after having these gummy treats. Also try having these types of candies during a meal instead of as a separate snack. More saliva is produced during meals, which helps rinse away candy bits and acids.

We are not saying not to get tongue piercings if you want to, however be mindful of the risks of having a tongue piercing. Biting down on the metal stud can crack a tooth. Lip piercings pose a similar risk. And when metal rubs against the gums, it can cause gum damage that may lead to tooth loss. The mouth is also a haven for bacteria, so piercings increases the risk of infections and sores. Think about discussing the health risks with your dentist first.

Most people know that flossing is a fundamental step in keeping our teeth and gums clean, however this is if you do it right. Snapping and popping your way through the process probably does more damage than good, causing friction on tissue and damage at the gum line. Instead, use about two inches of floss between your fingers, unroll a fresh section of floss for each tooth, and keep the floss tight against your tooth to break up plaque while leaving your gums in good shape.