It’s natural for our teeth to begin to turn yellow as we age. Although that’s not a particularly appealing thought, most of us can fight back against the dreaded yellow hue by using a whitening toothpaste and having our teeth professionally whitened from time to time. But if you consistently eat foods or drink beverages that stain your teeth, keeping them white can be an uphill battle. Here are a few foods and drinks to avoid — or at least keep to a minimum – to help your pearly whites stay white.
- Citrus and citrus juice: Acidic foods and drinks can damage the enamel on your teeth. Once that happens, your teeth will take on a yellowish hue. Even more bad news – once your enamel is gone, you can’t replace it, and no amount of professional whitening will restore your teeth to their natural color. Among the worst culprits in the acidic food and drink category are lemons and limes. Keep your consumption of these to an absolute minimum for healthy enamel.
- Coffee and tea: For most of us, coffee and/or black tea is just part of our daily routines. Unfortunately, these two beverages wreak havoc with your teeth – and the darker the brew, the worse the stains will be.
- Red wine: This is bad news for wine lovers. The tannins in red wine cause significant staining of your teeth. As it turns out, tannins bind to the tooth surface, and that allows pigments in the wine to take hold and stain your teeth.
- Balsamic vinegar: The dark, acidic nature of balsamic vinegar clings to the surface of your teeth, and that makes it an effective tooth-staining substance. Fortunately, most of us don’t actually drink it, but you might think twice before eating it on a regular basis – like in salad dressings or with bread and olive oil, for example.
- Curry: A favorite spice in both Indian and Thai foods, curry can also badly stain your teeth. That vivid yellow color looks good on the plate, but not so much on your teeth.
- Tomatoes: Once again, the color of the food can be a good indicator of how badly it can stain your teeth. Tomatoes not only stain; their acidity also erodes tooth enamel.
- Beets: Have you ever noticed how beets leave a stain behind on your hands and your cutting board and/or kitchen counter? They do exactly the same with your teeth.
- Berries and cherries: Just about any fruit can stain your teeth, but the deeper the color of the fruit, the worse it will be for staining. Cherries and berries both fall into this category.
Of course, we’re not suggesting that you eliminate these foods and beverages from your diet entirely. In fact, many are highly nutritious and beneficial to your overall health. But if you want to keep your teeth as white as possible, just practice a little moderation when it comes to these top tooth stainers.
