Stains on your teeth can be detrimental to your confidence and smile. Unfortunately, developing yellow or brown stains are common as we age and continue to enjoy some of our favorite foods. Luckily, there are ways to remove possible discoloration by practicing good oral hygiene! Let’s take a look at a few staining culprits.
Foods and Drinks that Cause Tooth Staining
A great way to tell if a food or liquid will stain your teeth is if it satins your clothes or skin. This category usually includes the following substances:
- Blueberries
- Soy sauce
- Beets
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Curry
- Dark beverages like tea, coffee, cola, red wine, grape juice, sports drinks, and cranberry juice
- Tomato Sauce or tomato-based sauces
Once you’re done enjoying the foods and drinks on the above list, make sure to rinse your mouth thoroughly before the stain sets in.
Foods that Help Remove Stains
Although there a lot of foods that cause stains, there are also tons of foods that can help reduce tooth stains! Eating these foods aids saliva production which naturally cleans your teeth. Let’s look at these healthy heroes:
- Water
- Broccoli
- Celery
- Shitake Mushrooms
- Strawberries
- Pineapple
- Oranges
- Cheese
- Yogurt
- Milk
- Raisins
- Onions
- Apple
- Carrots
- Baking Soda
Looking for an extra whitening food? Citrus fruits get the job done! Although these suckers have plenty of vitamin C and whitening benefits, they are highly acidic, which can temporarily soften your smiles enamel; so it is best to wait 30 minutes after consumption before brushing your teeth.
Five Methods for Cutting Down on Staining
Aside from rinsing and eating foods that help remove stains, there are other techniques you can follow in order to keep your smile bright and stain-free:
- Try a Straw: When sipping staining substances, use a straw. This will allow you to consume your liquid of choice without fully exposing your teeth to stains.
- Follow it Up with Floss and a Brush: After we eat, food and bacteria tends to hang around in our mouth–unless we do actively try and remove it! In order to decrease the possibility of plaque buildup, flossing and brushing twice a day for two minutes each time is strongly suggested.
- Drink Water: When you drink staining beverages like tea, coffee, wine, and juices, you become vulnerable to tooth stains. Try drinking water in between these beverages to help rid your mouth of potential staining agents. Water will also continue to wash away any leftover bacteria left on the teeth.
- Avoid Smoking: There is an extensive list of reasons to avoid this unhealthy habit; one important reason: tar from cigarettes and chewing tobacco can lead to unsightly stains.
- Visit a Dentist Every 6 Months: It’s important to book an appointment every 6 months so that your mouth can be professionally cleaned and evaluated for health concerns. Certain stains can only be treated professionally, which is why a dental visit is necessary.
Curious to learn how you can keep your pearly whites in shape? Take a look at our whitening program for proven results that will keep your smile glowing.