Tooth Stains: What Foods Cause Them?

Your favorite food and drink may be causing tooth stains.

For most of us, tooth stains are a continuous battle. The best way to keep teeth white is to brush and floss twice a day. Then, make sure you see a dentist regularly for preventative checkups and cleanings (usually recommended every six months).

As well as your day-to-day oral hygiene, you can prevent tooth stains at home by avoiding some of the food and drink most likely to cause them. At the very least, make sure to brush afterward to avoid prolonged exposure to these stain-causing foods.

If you are still concerned with the appearance of your teeth, consider scheduling a consultation on teeth whitening options. Call us today at (916) 391-2888.

Food That Stains Teeth

• Coffee – You might love drinking coffee for the energy boost provided by caffeine, as well as the healthy antioxidants. But, especially if you drink black coffee, the dark color is prone to leaving your teeth dingy and dull over time. You can minimize tooth stains by drinking your coffee with cream, or replacing the habit with a lighter-colored drink. And of course, prevent stains by brushing your teeth regularly.
• Berries – Fruit can be a sweet treat that provides a lot of health benefits. But, dentally speaking, it’s not always the best option for your teeth. Fruit tends to be high in sugar content, so failing to brush your teeth properly means bacteria and plaque in your mouth gain access to this food source as well. Additionally, fruit such as blackberries, blueberries, and others, are so dark that they tend to leave that color behind on your teeth.
• Red Wine / Fruit Juice – Red wine and many varieties of fruit juice bring the same risk for tooth stains as the berries themselves. With a dark pigmentation, and often a high amount of sugar, it’s best to skip these drinks if you want to avoid stains.
• Tomato Sauce – Bringing a concentrated and rich flavor to any meal, tomato sauces are hard to turn down. So be sure to brush properly to minimize their stain-causing properties.
• Cola – Dark-colored sodas are a prime example of something your teeth can do without (both for stain). The average American drinks two cans worth of soda every day. As well as causing dark stains, soft drinks are high in sugar and are acidic enough to damage tooth enamel.