We often resort to expensive treatments or in-store whitening strips to treat discoloured teeth, but the journey to a whiter smile lies in mindful diet and lifestyle choices. The foods and drinks listed below were found to be some of the best for causing stained, yellow teeth.
- Tea/Coffee - some dentists even consider that tea, even white or herbal varieties can be worse than coffee in terms of staining teeth.
- Deep Coloured Sauces - like tomato and curry contribute largely to discolouration. Lighter sauces such as those which are cream based, are better on teeth.
- Sports Drinks - because of its low pH (high acidity) sports drinks erode enamel easily, which enables stains to develop more readily.
- Wine - both red and white wine can discolour teeth due to its highly acidic properties.
- Berries - just like wine's and sports drinks, berries and berry juices are highly acidic especially the deeply coloured ones. As well as berries, lighter coloured fruit may also contribute to staining.
- Candy's and high sugar products - the artificial colours and high sugar content make them effectivestainers, besides being cavity creaters.
- Soda, soda and soda! - it's been emphasized countless times by dentists across the globe how bad carbonated beverages, especially soda can be on your oral and overall health. The sugary, artificially dyed and highly acidic beverage is your smiles biggest enemy.
Okay, so now we know what's discolouring your teeth how can you prevent it?
- Reduce the amount of trouble foods (listed above) in your everyday diet. You don't need to cut them out entirely but consume them in moderation.
- With beverages that cause stains - use a straw. It prevents the liquid from making direct contact with your teeth, especially your front teeth thus decreasing the chance of staining. If a straw isn't readily available, don't let the drink linger in your mouth rather - swallow it quickly.
- Rinse always after eating, to get rid of any residue from the meal or drink. Brushing immediately after eating or drinking anything highly acidic is not always appropriate as it can also contribute to weakening your tooth enamel.
- An alternative to rinsing is chewing sugarless gum right after eating.
Practicing these techniques will definitely help you to gaining a brighter, whiter smile!
However, if you already possess harshly discoloured teeth, you can ask your current dental provider for further techniques and treatment options to help you enhance your smile.
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