Do your teeth ever look a little bit sunburnt?
You might be surprised to learn that the damage to your teeth is actually due to food, not the sun’s harmful rays. Foods that stain teeth are becoming increasingly common as baking trends shift toward minimalism and natural ingredients.
Unfortunately, those trends may be causing more harm than good. Tea, coffee, and berries are just the beginning of a long list of foodstuffs that will damage your dental integrity.
So how can you stop food that stains teeth from harming you and your teeth?
Find out everything you should know about the foods and drinks that stain teeth in our guide below. Let’s get started!
Contents
Coffee
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, but it can also be one of the biggest culprits when it comes to staining teeth.
The coffee itself is dark in color, and when combined with other food and beverage ingredients, can result in some serious staining.
If you’re a coffee lover, there are some things you can do to help prevent staining, like using a straw and avoiding dark colors. You can also talk to your dentist about teeth whitening options.
Fruit Juices
Fruit juices are one of the most common drinks that can lead to staining of teeth. The high acid and sugar content in fruit juices can cause enamel to weaken and become more susceptible to staining.
To help avoid staining, it is important to brush your teeth soon after drinking fruit juice or to rinse your mouth out with water.
Cola
Many people love to drink cola, but it can be very detrimental to your teeth. The acidity in cola can soften tooth enamel and over time, this can lead to yellowing and staining of teeth.
It is important to brush your teeth after drinking cola, or any other food or beverage, to help avoid these stains.
Tea
Drinking tea can stain your teeth because of the pigments in the tea leaves. The tannins in tea can also bind to proteins in your saliva, which can cause stains.
The longer you steep your tea, the more likely it is to stain your teeth. If you’re concerned about staining, you can try using a whitening toothpaste or eating foods that are high in antioxidants, like strawberries.
Wine
The darker the wine, the more likely it is to cause staining.
Red wine is especially notorious for staining teeth. If you enjoy drinking wine, there are a few things you can do to maintain perfect white teeth.
Drink wine with a meal instead of on an empty stomach. This will help reduce the amount of acidity in your wine, which can contribute to staining.
You also need to swish water around your mouth after drinking wine. This will help to remove any residue from your teeth.
Try to drink white wine instead of red wine as well. White wine is less likely to cause staining than red wine. If you do drink red wine, be sure to brush your teeth afterward.
Berries
The pigments in berries can quickly cause discoloration, especially if you eat them often. To avoid staining your teeth, eat berries in moderation and be sure to brush your teeth afterward.
You can also rinse your mouth with water to remove any residual color. If you do get berries on your teeth, try to remove them as soon as possible to avoid lasting damage.
Curry
Curry is a food that is infamous for staining teeth. The pigments in curry are very strong and can easily adhere to teeth, causing them to become discolored.
If you enjoy eating curry, it is important to be diligent about brushing and flossing your teeth afterward. You may also want to consider using a whitening toothpaste to prevent staining.
Tomato Sauce
The red pigment in tomatoes can easily attach to your teeth and cause unsightly staining. To help prevent this, make sure to rinse your mouth with water after eating tomato sauce.
You can also brush your teeth immediately after eating to help remove any sauce that may be stuck to your teeth. Be sure to use toothpaste that is designed to remove stains.
Balsamic Vinegar
Balsamic vinegar is one of those oils that can really stick to your teeth and cause staining. The pigments in balsamic vinegar are especially prone to discoloring your teeth.
If you’re worried about tainting your teeth, you may want to avoid balsamic vinegar or at least brush your teeth immediately after eating anything with it.
Beetroot
The deep red color can seep into your enamel and leave behind a nasty hue. If you’re not careful, it can even permanently discolor your teeth.
To avoid this, make sure to brush and floss your teeth immediately after eating beetroot. You can also try using a straw when consuming this kind of food.
Soy Sauce
Soy sauce is one of the many foods that can stain teeth. The dark color of soy sauce can cause stains on teeth that are difficult to remove. To avoid getting your teeth stained, you can drink plenty of water to rinse your mouth.
Always remember to protect your white teeth from any of these foods and drinks.
If you are considering a dental procedure and you want to know what is teeth whitening and how it works, consult a dentist as soon as possible to make sure that this is the right treatment to maintain your bright smile.
Avoid Foods and Drinks That Stain Teeth Starting Today
Avoiding foods that stain teeth is a good place to start. Coffee, curry, and red wine are some of the worst offenders. If you can’t give them up entirely, you can brush your teeth right after eating or drinking.
Regular dental visits are also important for keeping your teeth healthy and white.
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