23 Mar 2018 Which Foods Stain Your Teeth?
Food! It tastes good, sooo good! But white teeth look good, sooo good! What is a person to do in order to eat delicious, healthy food but also to have a stain-free smile? Do certain foods stain your teeth more than others? Unfortunately, lots of foods can stain or damage teeth. Below are tips to help you figure out the best ways to eat and still maintain a gorgeous smile.
Foods that can stain your teeth
Food: Pasta sauce and other foods containing tomatoes. Tomatoes are acidic and can also stick to teeth. Acidity can cause tooth erosion, cavities, and staining.
Tip: Eat green veggies first like broccoli, kale or spinach to create a protective film over your teeth. Then if you have pizza or pasta sauce, your teeth are protected. Salad is a great appetizer!
Food: Curry. Curry, with its bright yellow hue, can stain teeth yellow. “But,” you may say, “I love curry. I can’t give it up.”
Tip: Never fear! Just eat veggies like cauliflower, carrots, or celery with the curry. They will help scrub staining off your teeth immediately.
Food: Balsamic Vinegar. “No!” you shout, “Not the healthy salad dressing!”
Tip: Even though it is healthy, its dark color can stain teeth. When you eat it, include a crunchy lettuce in the salad. The lettuce will help you scrub residue off your teeth. Also, if you brush your teeth 30 minutes after eating, the bad effects of food on your teeth go away and the good effects for the health of your entire body remain.
Food: Berries—Blackberries and blueberries. “But wait,” you think, “There’s antioxidants in those berries. That means cancer preventing.” Even though the staining effect of these berries applies to everything they are in—jam, smoothies, and even pie—you can still enjoy them and reduce their staining effects.
Tip: For example if you drink or swish with water after eating berries, you can get some of them off your teeth instantly. Another idea is to put them in yogurt or eat a hard cheese after eating berries. Both of these foods neutralize acid and even strengthen enamel.
Beverages—the worst culprit
Food: Coffee, tea, soda, wine, and sports drinks. All of us drink many of these kinds of drinks every day. Unfortunately, all of them, yes ALL of them, are acidic and can damage and stain teeth (even the sugar free ones and even ones without color!) Coffee and tea have tannins which also create a staining “environment” on your teeth. If you drink coffee or teeth and then eat a sugary or staining food, the effect will be heightened and not in a good way!
Tip: If you are a coffee or tea drinker, instead of drinking a little bit all day long, drink an entire cup in a few minutes and be done. Then rinse with a swig of water. The acid effect in your mouth will be lessened considerably. Another tip is to cut back on the number of times per day you drink one of these drinks. Instead, replace it with water. You may find that drinking more water helps your waistband as well.
Eating foods in moderation will help you enjoy eating but also enjoy your smile.