Our teeth gradually become more yellow over our lifetime. This is because our enamel wears away, making the yellow dentin that is underneath more visible. Whilst this is often unavoidable and just a part of getting older, there are things we can do to avoid our teeth becoming yellower ahead of time. Besides stopping smoking, some minor changes to our diets can reduce the amount of staining that we experience. So, in this post, we’re going to outline 5 food and drinks that cause teeth staining…
5 Foods and Drinks That Cause Teeth Staining
01. Tea
Tea contains tannins. These are chemicals that can cause colour compounds to stick to your teeth, making them appear darker.
02. Coffee
Like tea, coffee also contains tannins.
03. Tomato-based Sauces
Being rich in colour, tomato-based sauces can stain your teeth a yellowy hue. Not only that, they are often fairly acidic which can lead to enamel erosion too.
04. Soy Sauce
Due to the dark pigment, soy sauce can stain our teeth. This is the same with Balsamic Vinegar and other dark coloured sauces.
05. Red Wine
It wouldn’t be this list without a mention of red wine. Like tea and coffee, red wine also contains tannins. It’s also slightly acidic, meaning the enamel of the teeth can be slightly worn away, making it easier for stains to stick to the teeth.
It’s important to note that just because an item is on this list, you do not need to cut it out of your diet. Consuming all of these things in moderation is not going to be detrimental to your teeth. Rinsing with water after consuming these foods will help to reduce their impact, and drinking with a straw can help reduce the staining caused by tea, coffee and red wine.
Unhappy with the colour of your teeth? Get in touch today to book your free tooth whitening consultation with a member of the team!
