Are you looking for natural ways to whiten your teeth? One way you can keep your teeth healthy and white is by avoiding eating and drinking things that can stain your teeth. Even some of your favorite food and drinks can keep you from maintaining a healthy smile. Gulf Coast Dental wants to share five foods and drinks you should avoid if you’re trying to whiten your teeth.
Coffee and Black Tea
Many people wake themselves up in the morning with a fresh cup of coffee or black tea. Unfortunately, these drinks can stain your teeth. These drinks contain tannins, a chemical compound that likes to stick to the protein in your enamel. This causes discoloration in your teeth and stains your enamel.
If you’re looking for alternatives to your morning drink, try green or white tea. These teas have lesser amounts of tannins and leave less of a stain on your teeth.
Wine
Wine is one of the most common drinks that stain people’s teeth. Both red and white wines also contain tannins that stick to your teeth. White wine even has more acid than red, which can be pretty harsh on your teeth.
After drinking wine, rinse your mouth out with some water. This will wash out any potential staining you might have from the wine.
Soda and Fruit Juices
These dark-colored drinks are all bad news for your teeth. Fruit flavors and carbonation can stain your teeth and even invite cavities with their high acid and sugar content. Some of the most notable drinks that can stain your teeth include:
- Cola
- Cranberry juice
- Blueberry juice
- Grape juice
- Gatorade or energy drinks
These drinks and many others carry strong pigments that stick to your teeth. It’s always best to cut these drinks as much as possible, but if you’re looking for alternatives, consider drinking natural drinks, like coconut water, to give you that quick boost you need.
Tomato-Based Sauces
With that bold red color, tomatoes can easily stain your teeth. Tomato sauces are used in all kinds of dishes because it’s a great source of nutrients. Keep in mind, however, that this red pigment and its acid can leave a stain on your teeth after you finish your meal. Be mindful of how often you find tomatoes in your food if you’re looking to keep your teeth bright and healthy.
Balsamic Vinegar
Just like tomato sauces, it may be hard to fully cut balsamic vinegar from every meal you have. Balsamic vinegar also has a deep pigmentation that can stain your teeth. Consider using other types of vinegar for your cooking or other tasty salad dressings so you don’t have to fight against this pigment.
How Can A Dental Cleaning Whiten Your Teeth?
Getting a routine dental cleaning will ensure that your teeth are ready to combat any staining food and drink. If you’re looking for a local dentist, Gulfport is home to our specialists at Gulf Coastal Dental. We’re proud to offer ZOOM!, a dentist teeth whitening procedure that will give you immediate results. Give us a call today to brighten your smile and keep your teeth healthy and clean!
