Few people aspire to have mouths filled with yellow teeth. However, for many of us, it’s a reality that’s difficult to avoid.
Some of our favorite foods and drinks have an unfortunate tendency to cause staining to our pearly whites.
Fortunately, there are ways to enjoy your favorite drinks without accepting the fact that you are going to have yellow teeth.
Foods and Drinks that Cause Tooth Staining
When it’s time to begin the process of preventing tooth yellowing, the first step is to identify foods that could cause discoloration in your teeth.
Foods that color your skin and clothing are likely to stain your teeth as well. Likely culprits include:
- Tomato sauce
- Blueberries
- Beets
- Dark beverages like coffee, tea, cranberry juice, cola, grape juice, and red wine
- Soy sauce
After you eat these kinds of foods, it’s a good idea to rinse down those chompers. Take a swig of water and swish it around in your mouth. This will go a long way toward rinsing off any stain-inducing liquids.
Five Methods for Cutting Down on Staining
The good news is, there are methods you can employ to combat the effects these foods have on your teeth. You don’t have to settle for a mouth that is filled with ugly stains.
Use these techniques to reduce the incidence of tooth staining:
- See a Dentist Every 6 Months: Dental hygienists have tools and skill to remove surface stains from your teeth. They can also remove layers of tartar that may contribute to a less than white smile.
- Avoid Smoking: We all know that smoking is bad for our hearts and lungs. It also can result in a number of cosmetic damages, including yellowing teeth.
- Alternate With Sips of Water: Each time you take a sip of a beverage that causes staining like coffee, red wine, cola, or tea, add in a sip of water. Water will hep to rinse your teeth off and, bonus, will help you to make your beverage last for longer.
- Try Using a Straw: Sipping beverages that are likely to cause staining through a straw reduces the amount of time the liquids stay in contact with your smile.
- Follow it Up with a Thorough Brush and Floss: Not only is plaque bad for your teeth, but it’s a sticky substance that tends to hold tightly on to stain-causing particles. This is one of the many reasons why it’s important to thoroughly brush twice a day and floss daily.
Foods that Help Remove Stains
On a positive note, there are also foods that are good for your teeth. The foods on this list either contain tooth-healthy vitamins and minerals, or they have high water and fiber content, which work together to naturally clean your teeth.
Some examples are:
- Broccoli
- Cheese
- Strawberries
- Apples
- Celery
- Shitake Mushrooms
- Pineapple
- Carrots
- Raisins
- Water
Another food that’s great for your teeth? Citrus. Just tread carefully, the acid in citrus fruits will temporarily weaken your enamel. Be sure to wait 30 minutes after eating citrus before you brush your teeth.
While these tips will help you to prevent staining, they won’t do much for stains that are already on your teeth. To find out how you can use our services to get the sparkly white smile you always wanted, check out our whitening page.