9 Foods To Avoid To Keep Your Teeth White And Clean
Rebecca
1. Coffee and tea
We all know this – coffee and tea stains teeth
Contains tannins which leads to the staining and discoloration
Coffee is also acidic, and when the pH of your mouth is lower, your teeth are at higher risk for damage
Adding a splash of milk makes them less damaging to our teeth!
2. Soy Sauce
Its dark color will gradually stain teeth
Use less to avoid teeth staining by dipping rather than pouring
Drink water to rinse out your mouth during the meal in order to remove excess soy sauce from teeth
3. Red Wine
Wine causes grey staining as opposed to yellow, which unfortunately is harder to remove
Also contains tannins that we see in coffee and tea
Highly acidic which degrades our enamel
Red wine can, however, prevent cavities!
4. White Wine
Who would’ve thought? Even though it’s not a dark color like the others, white wine is known to make the stains that are already on your teeth darker and more visible
It may not cause the stains itself, but being an acidic drink causes prior stains to settle in more.
5. Candy
Sugar not only causes cavities, but t also decreases the pH of your mouth and makes your teeth more prone to damage
The sugar also sticks to our teeth, which is like food for bad bacteria and causes rotting and discoloration
Brush your teeth right after, as they are too sticky for saliva to wash away
6. Blackberries
…and other dark-pigmented fruit!
We’re not saying don’t eat fruits – they’re loaded with antioxidants and vitamins! Maybe just don’t eat them right after you’ve had your teeth whitened, as the dark colors in blackberries, blueberries, and pomegranates do stain.
7. Soda and sugary drinks
Gives mouth bacteria plenty of reasons to stay and cause more damage
Carbonated drinks may lead to holes in your teeth, decreasing their strength and making them more prone to stains
The colors in sodas such as coca-cola and dr. pepper combined with added sugar are sure to stain your teeth gradually
8. Citrus fruits
As you know by now, an acidic environment in the mouth is associated with stains on the teeth
Lemons and other acidic fruits can cause a yellow tint to your teeth
These fruits can also erode enamel which exposes dentin – the yellow-colored tissues under the white enamel
9. Pickles
Another super acidic food that erodes enamel and causes stains
If you can’t eliminate them from your sandwiches, try brushing your teeth immediately after to remove the sticky juice which causes staining over time
