If you plan to celebrate the 4th of July eating barbecue all day long, you should recognize that barbecue sauce and meat rubs contain ingredients that can leave dark stains on your teeth. You can tackle tooth discolorations with coconut oil, strawberries and celery. Here are tips to use after you eat your barbecue.

Invest in Coconut Oil

When it comes to protecting your teeth from barbecue sauce and grill seasonings, tomatoes aren't the only things you need to worry about. Some barbecue sauces are also made with a Spanish seasoning called annatto or achiote. Annatto contains natural dyes and oils that turn brilliant red, yellow or orange when they mix with water. The dyes can coat the surfaces of your teeth, gums and tongue.

You may reduce the staining effects of annatto oil and tomatoes with coconut oil. A number of sites recommend using coconut oil as a tooth-whitener. Coconut oil contains antioxidants, extracts and enzymes that react with your mouth's saliva to remove discolorations from your teeth. 

To use the oil, you:

• Place one teaspoon of oil in your mouth
• Swish the oil around your mouth for at least 15 minutes, then spit
• Rinse your mouth with cool water to remove any oil residue and sauce stains from your mouth

You can use the oil before and after you eat barbecue and grilled foods for the best results. .

Chew on Celery Sticks and Strawberries

There are other tooth-whitening techniques you can try, including munching on fruits and vegetables. Celery and strawberries are excellent stain-fighters. Celery contains water, which encourages your mouth to produce saliva when you chew it. Celery's crunchy texture also pulls stains and plaque from between your teeth.

Dr. Oz and other sources recommend eating or using strawberries to whiten your teeth. You can snack on strawberries in between barbecues, or you can enjoy them as a dessert. However, you should avoid adding artificial sugars to your berries to get the best benefits. Sugar may attract stain-causing bacteria.

Tips

If you still see stains on your teeth after following the tips above, see your cosmetic dentist for care. The dentist may offer quick and easy bleaching treatments that remove stains from every surface of your teeth. 

You may also have discolorations on your gums and tongue. Your dental provider may prescribe whitening rinses that break up these types of stains as well. 

If you want to know more about preventing or treating tooth stains, contact a cosmetic dentist like Bristol Dental Group today.