Q: What threatens a sparkling, clean mouthful of teeth?
Margaret D., Arlington, Virginia

A: Soda can be your teeth's worse enemy. The acid in soda pop can "eat" your tooth's enamel and cause cavities. If you must drink soda, try sugar free or use a straw. A straw allows less sugary, tooth staining liquids to reach your front teeth. Coffee and tea are no friend of teeth either; they can stain a naturally white smile. The heat from the coffee can also cause small fractures in your tooth's surfaces. Try drinking cooler coffee and use a straw or brush your teeth after drinking coffee or tea. But we have yet to reveal the worst foe of all…drum roll please…SMOKING! Smoking will cause a build up on teeth that results, eventually, in yellow to orange colored staining; these stains can take longer to lighten than color damage done by the other culprits.

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