Do you have grey or yellowish stains on your teeth, but you’re not a smoker? It’s likely that the food and drinks that you’re enjoying are causing these stains. Find out below which foods and drinks are the biggest culprits and what you can do to prevent further staining from happening.
Soy Sauce
If you love sushi, we have some bad news for you. The soy sauce you love to dip it in can leave some heavy stains on your teeth. If you’re not ready to skip the soy or trade it with spicy mayo, be sure to at least drink some water between bites to remove some of the stains until you can brush them away.
Beets
Beets stain everything they touch, especially your teeth. Even if you rinse your mouth, you’ll still end up with some staining after eating them. To get rid of the leftover effect you’ll need to brush your teeth and use a whitening toothpaste or strip for those tougher stains.
Colourful Berries
Despite their health benefits, dark pigmented fruit like blueberries, raspberries, cherries, strawberries, and pomegranates can leave ugly lasting stains on your teeth. The same goes for dark fruit juices like grape and cranberry juice. You don’t have to banish these from your diet, but make sure to swish some water around your mouth afterward to remove some of the residues.
Coffee and Tea
Coffee and tea are full of tannins that stain and discolour your teeth. Plus, these beverages are quite acidic which can further damage the enamel. To curtail any staining, you can add some milk to lighten the colour and then rinse with a glass of water after to act as a buffer from the acids. The quality also makes a difference, so stick to high-quality brands if you want whiter teeth.
Wine
Wine also has a bad rep for staining teeth, both red and white. Since you’re not going to give up wine forever, you can help to avoid getting stains in the first place by sipping water and wiping away the stains with a wet paper towel in between glasses. Cheese is also effective at cutting down the staining, as are high fiber foods like broccoli and cauliflower – so be sure to set out a cheese and veggie tray to go with your wine!
Cola
Dark sodas like cola are not just bad for your health, they’re also harmful to your teeth. The acids in the soda work to erode the enamel which make them more porous and easier to stain. If you can’t kick the habit at least rinse your mouth out with water and use a biodegradable straw to reduce direct contact with your teeth.
Looking for a way to counteract the stains that you can’t remove? Contact us at Carlingwood Dental to discuss your options. Our LED teeth whitening system can access the stains deep within the enamel and leave you with a bright and beautiful smile.
