Are you constantly fighting to keep your teeth pearly white? There are certain foods and drinks that are not helping your cause and cause teeth stains. A general rule is that if the food or drink stains your table cloth, it will also stain your teeth. Another rule is if the food is acidic, it can soften your teeth, making them easier to stain.
The Top Teeth-Staining Foods and Beverages
- Wine.Red wine is not only a deep color, it is also acidic. Even white wine can promote staining, especially if consumed before a cup of tea.
- Tea.Like wine, the ordinary black tea most people drink is a big culprit. Dentists say tea stains more than coffee does.
- Cola.Cola can cause significant staining. Even clear or light colored sodas promote staining because they are as acidic as battery acid!
- Sports drinks.Recent research found that highly acidic sports drinks soften the tooth enamel and promote staining.
- Berries.Blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, cherries, grapes, pomegranates, etc (and juices, pies, and other foods and beverages made from them) can cause stains.
- Sauces.Soy sauce, tomato sauce, curry sauce, and other deeply colored sauces are believed to have significant staining potential.
- Sweets.Hard candies, chewing gum, popsicles, and other sweets often contain teeth-staining agents. If your tongue turns a funny color, there’s a good chance that your teeth will be affected too.
What Can You Do?
- Quickly Swallow. It keeps the staining agent away from the teeth.
- Use a Straw. Sipping beverages through a straw is believed to help keep teeth-staining beverages away from teeth.
- Swish with water. It’s not always convenient to brush your teeth after every snack, meal or drink. In fact, tooth enamel is vulnerable to abrasion and staining for up to 30 minutes after your snack. So swish with water and brush later.
(source: WebMD)
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