If you love to snack on sugary treats or you drink a cup of coffee each morning, you are unknowingly contributing to the stains on your teeth. Your local dentist in Long Beach sees patients whose teeth have been discolored over time because of the substances that they eat. While you don’t have to stop indulging in your favorite items, you should at least know which foods and drinks are most likely to cause your teeth to stain. Below, we are listing the top 8 foods and drinks that stain teeth.
Top 8 Foods and Drinks That Stain Teeth
Tomato Sauce
Any tomato-based product will stain your teeth. The dark, rich acid found in tomatoes will instantly darken your smile. If you don’t brush your teeth right away after eating tomatoes, sauces, salsas, and other foods rich in this sweet and delicious fruit, they will leave dark stains. If you’re about to consume tomato sauce or pasta sauce, make sure you brush your teeth.
Balsamic Vinegar
Balsamic vinegar is the perfect dressing for a salad or a rich dip for a loaf of bread. However, the dark pigments in balsamic vinegar can easily stain your teeth. Bring a toothbrush if necessary the next time you dip your bread into this delicious vinegar at an Italian restaurant, as brushing right away is the only way to prevent your teeth from staining.
Sugary drinks
Dark teas, sodas, and fruit juices can cause serious damage to the mouth. Fruit juices may have some health benefits because of the fruits they contain, but dark pigments can stain teeth. Citrus fruits also contain an acidic substance that can damage your enamel (the outermost layer of teeth). Not only are sodas dangerous for darkening your teeth, but they also contain a lot of artificial sugars, which cause decay and infection.
Soy Sauce
It is delicious on sushi, rice, and stir-fried veggies, but soy sauce can be bad for your teeth. The high sodium content in the sauce makes it taste delicious, but it enhances the richness of the texture. The dark pigments in the sauce and the sodium can cause your teeth to become stained. It is this that causes the teeth to darken with time. If sauce can stain clothes, then it will likely also stain teeth.
Coffee
Most Americans drink at least one coffee or cup of tea in the morning. While these caffeinated beverages can help us start our day, we should also give our teeth a rest every now and then. The discoloration of your teeth from coffee and tea will only get worse with time. To reduce the chances of staining, switch to green tea instead of white or black.
Tea
Tea can cause teeth discoloration, just like soda and coffee. The dark pigments in black tea are absorbed into your teeth and stain quickly unless you brush your teeth right away. This can cause your mouth to be stained from the inside, making intrinsic stains that may not be easily removed from a simple tooth whitening procedure. The tannins in tea can also discolor your teeth. Green or white tea will stain less than black tea, so make sure to choose your tea carefully.
Berries
Blueberries will stain your hands with purple juice at the slightest touch because they are extremely saturated with a rich pigment. All berries contain antioxidants, vitamins, and pigments that are good for your body. Blueberries, however, are prone to bleeding, so they can stain pretty much anything. If you eat berries, don’t cut yourself off from the snack you love most – but just remember to brush your teeth right away afterward.
Beets
Beets can stain almost anything. Your family may mistakenly think that your hands are stained with blood if you’ve ever cut beets into slices. Redness can stain your clothing, table, skin, and even your teeth. No surprise, beets also stain teeth. Beets are good for you, so don’t avoid them. Be sure to thoroughly brush and rinse your mouth between meals.
Refresh Your Teeth with Professional Whitening Treatments
You can invest in professional teeth whitening treatment with your local dentists by reaching out to our friendly staff members at any time. We want to help you restore a bright and white smile that you can be proud of. Don’t kick your daily habits in the budget your teeth whitened instead! Don’t let these top 8 foods and drinks that stain teeth impact you anymore!
