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Smiling Brightly: Food & Drinks To Avoid For Whiter Teeth

Acorn Dental Health • 7 June 2023

We all want to take good care of our dental hygiene as we move through life, where it can be difficult to balance the consumption of food and drink with maintaining clean teeth. A dentist can provide you with an effective teeth whitening service, where this can be used to remove old stains and polish your smile.

Alongside this, you may also wish to consider what food and drink causes teeth staining, where you may want to avoid these foods after a whitening treatment, or cut down on them more generally. In order to protect your teeth, it is recommended that you drink water after consuming stain-causing food and drink and brush your teeth regularly to reduce damage to your enamel.

Read on for an overview of some of the top teeth staining food and drinks that you might be consuming on a regular basis.

Tea & Coffee

Consumed on a daily basis by a large portion of the population, tea and coffee are some of the most well known causes of teeth staining. This is because they contain high levels of tannins, which interact with sugars and bacteria to increase their chances of sticking to tooth enamel.

Red Wine

A popular alcoholic beverage which complements many savoury dishes, red wine is also a well-known cause of teeth staining. This also contains tannins as well as acids and dyes, where it is recommended to rinse teeth with water and to brush them thoroughly after drinking.

Tomato Sauces

In addition to drinks, food and sauces with a tomato base can also contribute to teeth staining. This is because, like wine, tomato products are acidic, where acidic foods roughen and open up pores in the enamel allowing stains to take hold.

Fruit Juices

Although they make a healthy addition to your daily nutritional intake, fruit juices can cause teeth staining due to their acidic ingredients. Dark juices such as cranberry and grape are particularly potent, where high sugar contents can also harm teeth enamel.

Berries

Another healthy food that can impact teeth colour is berries. In particular blackberries, raspberries and blueberries can stain enamel due to tannin content and acidity, where the stronger the colour, the more potent the staining.

Acorn Dental Health: Helping To Brighten Your Smile

At Acorn Dental Health, we offer a wide range of dental treatments, including teeth whitening and other cosmetic dentistry services. In addition to this, we also offer routine check-ups and appointments with oral hygienists, where it is important to visit a dentist regularly to maintain your smile.