Keeping your teeth clean is difficult. Many tasty foods are sweet or sour, which means they slowly gnaw your tooth enamel.
To avoid these inconveniences, find out which foods stain your teeth and try to brush your teeth after consuming them. When you can’t, rinse your mouth with clean water.
1 – Cofee
No surprisingly that the first item on our list of spots is coffee. Coffee beans contain a natural compound known as tannins, the secret ingredient that gives them that dry and bitter taste. Unfortunately, tannins are also the cause of the staining and discoloration that comes with your morning cup of coffee.
Your teeth are porous, which means they naturally absorb any food or liquid you eat. To avoid stains, try to drink your coffee with a straw or a cup lid, to limit contact with your teeth.
2- Tea
If you’ve switched to tea after learning that coffee stains your teeth, we’ve got some bad news for you. Like coffee, tea also contains tannins. The darker the tea is, the more likely it is to cause stains. Even herbal teas and white teas aren’t the best, as they can still wear down your enamel and discolor your teeth.
Of course, if you can’t give up on a hot cup of tea, it’s best to switch to lighter blends to minimize the impact of stains. Some dentists even suggest that the higher the quality of the tea, the better to prevent discoloration. Otherwise, consider adding milk or drinking it through a straw or a lid to further maintain your results.
3 – Red wine
Next on our list of tannin saboteurs is wine. Wine can be responsible for any gray discoloration on your teeth. The bad news is that shades of gray are much harder to correct than yellow. The good news is that wine contains a lot of natural antioxidants that detoxify the mouth and help fight cavities.
4 – Soft drinks
You can add your favorite soda to the list of drinks to be reduced, thanks to the acids and colorings they contain. Coca Cola is at the top of the list of culprits, but even lighter colored drinks can cause staining. All carbonated drinks have acidic properties, which cause damage to the enamel of your teeth.
5 – Tomato sauce
Tomatoes are the main ingredient involved here, due to their acidity, bright red color, and tendency to cling to teeth. Unfortunately, everything that is highly based on tomatoes can stain your teeth. Despite this, tomatoes are high in antioxidants and rich vitamins that your body needs.
To avoid stains, switch to lighter colored creamy sauces, brush and rinse shortly after eating. Or, if you prefer, you can choose to eat a salad beforehand. Green vegetables like lettuce and broccoli help create a protective film on your teeth and prevent tomato stains from seeping in.
6- Balsamic vinegar
Balsamic vinegar is becoming a popular seasoning that adds spice to a wide range of dishes. Unfortunately, it joins the list as another dark colored liquid that stains teeth. Balsamic vinegar also has acidic properties, which means it’s likely to stick to your teeth and break down enamel.
Now think about to take it slow and easy with the balsamic, or maybe switching to a lighter vinegar to avoid staining.