7 Foods to Avoid That Stain Teeth

Oakville residents need only to set an appointment here: https://www.chaggerdental.com/locations/dentist-oak-park-oakville-on/ to have experts get the stains on their teeth out and restore the white in their pearly whites. As easy as teeth whitening may be, everyone can do themselves and their teeth a favor by avoiding food that stain and take out the sparkle from their choppers. There are many food culprits that you should go easy on or avoid to prevent your teeth from staining. Listed below are seven of the most common, everyday foods that are sure to cause stains your teeth.

1. Coffee

Humankind’s love affair with coffee is undeniable, which make this hot beverage a popular go-to elixir for a quick and instant picker-upper. Coffee stains your teeth in two ways. First, it contains tannins, which is the same substance used to tan leathers and make ink. Second, coffee is acidic and can wear away the outer enamel of your teeth, making them more susceptible to discoloration.

2. Tea

Some prefer tea to coffee, thinking that the former is a healthier option. While this is still debatable, tea also causes discoloration in the teeth. Just like coffee, tea also contains tannins. The darker the tea, the more staining it can inflict on your teeth.

3. Tomato Sauce

Tomato sauce contain intense pigmentation that can transfer to your teeth easily. As solid as your teeth may appear, they have a porous surface, which means that they can easily absorb pigments from food.

4. Balsamic Vinegar

The dark pigmentation on balsamic vinegar, coupled with its stickiness and acidity make it a potent source of teeth stain. You can avoid it altogether by choosing a suitable alternative that does not cause any staining on your chompers.

5. Spices

Colorful spices such as curry and turmeric have pigments that can cause the teeth to yellow and darken over time. If you love spicy cuisine that uses these and other colorful spices, remind yourself not indulgence in them too often.

6. Soy Sauce

This dark-colored condiment is a staple in Asian cuisine, and its pigment can cause a buildup of stains on your teeth over time. While all dark liquids can potentially cause staining on your teeth, soy sauce can cause faster discoloration due to its high concentration of both pigment and sodium.

7. Citrus and Acidic Foods

While these may be high in vitamin C, they also are very acidic, which can thin out the enamel on your teeth. In time, this will slowly expose the yellow dentin just beneath the enamel.

Admittedly, it will be quite a task to avoid some, if not all of the food mentioned here completely. One way that you can counteract teeth stains is to eat more of the foods that help keep your teeth healthy and sparklingly white. These food items include cheese, strawberries, nuts and high-fiber fruits. Brushing your teeth once a week with baking soda can also help whiten your teeth naturally. Keep in mind, however, that baking soda has abrasive properties that can eat away the enamel on your teeth.