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Bright green beer, milkshakes, bagels, cupcakes, and donuts – even green pizza!? To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day restaurants, bakeries, and bars across America offer green-themed foods and drinks. Fast-food chains and food brands join in, offering limited-time green versions of their popular products. It’s fun, but can these celebratory items really be consumed with no risk to a bright, white smile?
Luckily, enjoying green food and drinks for just one day – St. Patrick’s Day, obviously – probably will not tint most people’s teeth an alarming shamrock shade. But celebrating the saint’s day with green goodies may cause problems for people who have certain types of dental work.
How to know if green-dyed food can harm your smile
If you have had any of the dental treatments below, use caution when consuming green-dyed food (or any vibrantly tinted food, as well as naturally dark foods and drinks).
Teeth Whitening – Those who have recently had a professional dental whitening treatment or used at-home bleaching kits/whitening strips should stay away from the green-dyed foods, just like they would red wine or red sauces. This is because newly whitened teeth are more porous for a few weeks after treatment and more vulnerable to staining. It would be a shame to spend all that money on whitening treatments, some of which cost upwards of hundreds of dollars, just to end up with stained (green!) teeth again.
Ceramic/Clear Braces – Ceramic or clear braces – particularly clear brackets – easily pick up stains. The stains will likely – but no promises! – fade away in a week or so, but why risk it? And even if it does wear off, it could take days to fade, leaving you with a green tinted smile for the duration.
Bonded Teeth/Overlays/Onlays -The bonding material used in some cosmetic dental procedures can become discolored when exposed to certain drinks and foods, especially colorful ones. Typically, darker foods are what you have to worry about, but frankly we wouldn’t take a chance with green snacks or beverages either.
Tooth-colored Dental Fillings - Your dentist probably calls these “composite restorations” or “white fillings,” but the important thing to know is that these can stain over time just like natural teeth do. One green milkshake or probably will not be an issue, but overindulging in green-colored foods or drinks may add to stain build-up.
Still want green food for St. Patrick’s Day?
As a rule of thumb, if a dentist has advised you to limit consumption of dark-colored drinks such as red wine, coffee, and cola, or foods like soy sauce, ketchup, or spices such as turmeric – green St. Patrick’s Day goodies should also be avoided. If in doubt, check with your dentist before indulging.
If March 17th just is not the same without a green beverage, sipping through a straw can help keep the tint away from your teeth. (Although sipping beer through a straw may make people wonder about you.)
And yes, brushing, flossing, rinsing with mouthwash, or even chewing gum between meals may (we’re stressing may) help to lessen the impact of the green dye.
For those without the dental issues listed above, green-colored St. Patrick’s Day treats should be smile-safe and nothing to worry about. Typically, the festive green shade of St. Patrick’s Day specials is achieved by using the synthetic food dye FD&C Green No. 3 – also known as “Fast Green.” FD&C Green No. 3 has been approved for use in “cereal, ice cream, sherbet, drink mixers, and baked goods.”
Additions such as wheatgrass juice, spirulina, and matcha (green tea) are sometimes used in St. Patrick’s Day treats when a natural dye option is desired. Some of these additions, like green tea, can be helpful in fighting bacteria that cause oral issues like plaque and bad breath. But whether natural or synthetic, these dyes can stain vulnerable teeth, dental devices, and restorations.
Keep your smile healthy and white
Healthy teeth are far more likely to be able to come in contact with green-dyed foods and beverages with no long-term side effects. Just another reason to do the things you need to do to maintain your oral health. That includes good oral hygiene, and regular visits to the dentist for checkups and cleanings.
Think you can’t afford to see a dentist? Dental savings plans can help.
Dental savings plans are an affordable alternative to traditional dental insurance. Plan members report saving an average of 50%* on their dental care.
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