Which Foods Will Stain Your Teeth?
Our dental health is more important than most people like to
admit, and it can especially start to affect our confidence when we start to
face dental problems such as teeth staining. Dental work can be expensive, and
with the cost of living increasing by the day, the last thing we need is to
spend hundreds on restoring the health and appearance of our teeth. There are
many foods and habits we can avoid to keep our teeth squeaky clean and
stain-free.
Here are 5 foods and beverages you should limit ingesting if
you wish to avoid teeth staining:
1. Tea and Coffee
Despite the beneficial caffeine which tea and coffee
provides, we should all start to be more conscious of how much exactly we are
ingesting daily. Have you ever split coffee on one of your nice white shirts
that has never seemed to come out? Imagine what it is doing to your teeth after
sipping multiple cups of tea and coffee a day. They both contain an acid called
‘Tannis’, which overall contributes to the staining of our teeth.
2. Red Wine
For those of you red wine drinkers, it might be time to
start reducing your intake of red wine, if not completely stopping it. The dark
rich colour of red wine is a common cause of teeth staining. You wouldn't risk
drinking red wine in the room with the new cream carpets, so why do the same to
your teeth? Keep everything in moderation, and even if you are only drinking
wine on special occasions you might consider rinsing and cleaning your mouth as
soon as possible after.
3. Curry
If you are a curry enthusiast, we unfortunately are going to
crash your party. Curry contains many teeth-staining ingredients such as
turmeric. They are detrimental to your teeth if you are consistently eating
such foods frequently, therefore we recommend you cut down your curry night and
make sure you have some mouthwash on hand to get rid of the remaining staining
foods.
4. Fruits
Fruits of all kinds unfortunately have teeth-staining
qualities, despite the actual gut benefits that can provide for our health.
Berries such as cherries, pomegranates, strawberries, and especially fruit
juices can have staining qualities. Many fruit juices are produced with
artificial colouring, therefore their properties are highly likely to have
long-lasting effects if your intake is not reduced.
5. Sodas
On the topic of artificial dyes, fizzy drinks like cola and
dr pepper are known culprits of causing staining teeth. Their masses of sugar,
chemicals, and acids within the ingredients mean they are liable for not only
teeth staining but also enamel breaking down.
Of course, many of these foods and drinks are part of our
everyday diet and some have other health benefits such as berries and herbal
teas. The key is to limit our consumption and remove any remaining food
particles as soon as we are finished eating or drinking to avoid the staining
process. Here are some tips to avoid staining your teeth and remove the stains
if possible:
Tips To Avoid Staining:
Use A Straw - Use a straw when drinking acidic teas and sodas
and reduce the amount of time the soda is spent swishing in your mouth, and
making its way to your teeth. This will not completely prevent staining but it
will of course reduce the risk.
Brush after eating- It might not be practical to brush
straight after you eat as you might be in a social setting, but if possible try
to clean your mouth after eating at home. There are also chewing gums designed
to clean your teeth and freshen your mouth.
Teeth whitening - If you are past the point of avoiding stains and they are
already prominent, you might consider teeth whitening or dental surgery. There
are at-home whitening kits, but often whitening is done most effectively at a dentist in Leamington Spa.
