Having the opportunity to savor good food and drink with family and friends is one of the joys of life. Unfortunately, many of these same foods stain your teeth, creating lasting discoloration. Let’s see the worst foods for staining teeth.
Worst Foods for Staining Teeth
The good news is there are ways you can enjoy all of your favorite foods and minimize the risk of staining. It all starts with knowing which foods are the most likely to cause those unsightly stains and talking with your dentist in Rialto to avoid the worst effects of staining.
Red Wine
Red wine is a quintessential example of a staining food/drink for a reason. It’s acidic and highly pigmented, which is a dangerous combination for your teeth. While you can limit some of the risk of staining by drinking your wine through a straw, that certainly isn’t the preferred approach.
If you would rather sip your wine straight from the glass, just make sure you rinse your mouth out with water after you’re done. Give it twenty minutes, and then brush your teeth to give your enamel a chance to recuperate from the exposure to the acidic drink.
Coffee
Coffee has the same issues as red wine in terms of pigmentation and acidity. In this case, you should only use the straw technique with coffee if it is iced. Attempting to use a straw with hot coffee could cause you to inadvertently scald your mouth and tongue.
Given the acidity of coffee, it is still a good idea to rinse your mouth with water and wait before brushing your teeth. If you brush your teeth while the enamel is still compromised by the acidity of your coffee, the bristles of your toothbrush may actually damage your protective enamel.
Curry
Curry and many other strongly pigmented spices can stain your teeth. Turmeric is a particularly popular example that has become an important ingredient in nutrition-based smoothies as well as a lot of middle eastern and Asian cooking.
Using these spices in moderation may be a good option for some people, but they are a staple in many types of cuisine. Regardless of how often you consume curry, turmeric, and other highly pigmented spices, it’s a good idea to brush your teeth thoroughly once you’re done eating.
Dark Soda
Dark soda comes with the same complications as red wine and coffee with the added problem of a high sugar content. Using a straw proves a great idea with dark soda. And the general guidelines for rinsing, waiting, and brushing should stay applied.
Beets
Beets are making a comeback in the American diet due to their nutritional value. These bright purple root vegetables do unfortunately contribute to stains. The good news is that eating them in moderation and brushing afterwards should be enough to minimize staining.
Berries
There are many types of berries that cause stains. Some of the most common offenders are blackberries and strawberries. As with beets, practice moderation and follow basic oral hygiene practices to help remove pigments before they fully permeate your teeth.
Tomatoes
Last, but certainly not least on the list, are tomatoes. That delicious, bright-red color is as likely to stain your teeth as it is to stain your clothes. Of course, tomatoes include lots of powerful nutrients, so you shouldn’t be afraid to include them in your diet. Just make sure you’re also caring for your teeth.
Making Conscious Choices
Wine, coffee, and soda may not be at the top of the list for nutrition, but there are many staining foods that do contain important nutrients that we need each and every day. Rather than compromising your ability to enjoy good, nutritious food, focus on doing what you can to take care of your teeth when you do consume those foods.
For the most part, good oral hygiene and the occasional teeth whitening in Rialto are all you need to keep your teeth looking bright.
