Sugar is probably the biggest culprit in food and drink that cause tooth stains. It is in most things we consume or we add it & it is fairly difficult to avoid all “sugars” that we are presented with.

There are healthy sugars – such as those found in milk (lactose) and fruit and veggies (fructose) and the carbohydrates found in whole grains, pasta, rice, potatoes and snack foods like chips and crackers. Our bodies use these sugars in many important ways.

However they can pose a problem to our teeth if we continuously feed the bacteria in our mouths. Sugar (in particular) and other food debris start to form a a sticky slimy surface on the tooth called plaque.

Plaque forms rock hard on the tooth surface (tartar) and erodes the tooth surface if not removed (brushing & flossing) or broken down by our own mouth acids.

There are also many foods that act as natural teeth whiteners- apples, broccoli, spinach, celery, strawberries are just a few of the foods that you can eat afterwards to help clean your teeth.

Diet & Lifestyle therefore play a major part in our tooth shade. Drinking lots of fizzy drinks, smoking, drinking red wine, tea, coffee and eating foods like curries, tomatoes etc is going to cause more tooth stain than those who don’t consume these types of foodstuffs.

Here is A List of 10 Killer Foodstuffs That Effect Tooth Shade:-

1. Black Coffee
Bad news for coffee lovers – those daily cups of java that you love are dimming your smile. The darker the coffee, the worse it is for your teeth. You can try lightening your coffee up with some milk, which will also give you an added bonus of calcium and vitamin D, which are both good for maintaining healthy white teeth.

2. Tea
Tea has been proven to be excellent for overall dental health. It is rich in compounds called tannins, that attack cavity causing bacteria and plaque. However, black teas cause the worst stains, so stick to the light colored teas- green, white and herbal blends. If you are like me and don’t want to give up your black tea, drink it through a straw. One more thing, make sure that your tea isn’t too hot or cold, because both hot and cold temps open up the pores in your teeth and degenerate tooth enamel, causing more permanent stains.

3. Red Wine
It contains polyphenols, which help to prevent periodontal diseases that damage the gums and bone around teeth, which ultimately leads to tooth loss.

However, those polyphenols are also responsible for causing tooth staining and the alcohol in red wine is highly acidic and wears away tooth enamel, exposing the soft yellow dentin underneath.

Brushing your teeth right after drinking red wine can be especially harmful and actually cause scratching of your tooth enamel.

Drinking red wine through a straw would look really dorky, so isn’t a very viable option for avoiding tooth staining. However, you could rinse your mouth out with water afterwards, in order to help neutralize the negative effects or switch to drinking lighter colored wines.

4. Fizzy Drinks
Dark colored sodas are not only staining, but are also full of harmful phosphoric, citric acids and sugars that erode tooth enamel and cause tooth decay, which leads to a dull, ugly smile. Since most people like their soda cold, this creates further dental problems. Cold drinks make tooth enamel more porous and vulnerable to staining. If you’re not ready to give up your soda habit, then at least drink it through a straw, to minimize contact with your teeth.

5. Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice and other dark colored fruit juices are highly pigmented and can cause yellowing of the teeth. Cranberry juice contains very high amounts of sugar in order to offset its natural bitter taste and as we all know, sugar isn’t very good for teeth. Drink it through a straw or rinse your mouth out with some water after drinking it. You could also switch to drinking white cranberry juice or other lighter colored fruit juices.

6. Iced Lollys
Popsicles are a colorful summertime favorite, but those dyes that color your lips and tongue funny colors are also staining your teeth. Plus, they’re full of sugar and the cold iciness opens up the porous surface of your tooth enamel, which causes even worse staining. If you want a sweet summer treat, try freezing some fresh fruit- frozen grapes are my favorite.

7. Soy Sauce
It may be good on rice, but it isn’t good on your teeth. Soy sauce sticks to teeth and its deep colored pigments can cause bad stains. So, go easy on the soy sauce, the next time you’re at the sushi bar and rinse your mouth out with some water or green tea after eating it.

8. Balsamic Vinegar
Balsamic vinegar is a lot like soy sauce- it is deeply pigmented, clings to teeth and causes tooth discoloration. You could pair it with lettuce, by drizzling it over your salad. Lettuce forms a protective barrier over teeth to help keep them free from stains. You could also switch to using a lighter colored vinegar.

9. Tomato Sauce / Tomatoes
Italian food would just be a bunch of tasteless carbs without it. Tomato sauce is highly acidic and much like soy sauce and balsamic vinegar, clings to teeth and causes stains. You could have a spinach salad before eating your pasta or pizza. Much like lettuce, spinach will form a protective film over your teeth, helping to keep them free from stains.

10. Blueberries
Blueberries are excellent for your overall health and are jam packed with nutrients and antioxidants, which are very helpful for maintaining strong and healthy teeth. However, that deep berry blue can cause deep staining on your teeth, so be sure to rinse your mouth out thoroughly with water.

To find out which teeth whitening kit will remove your tooth stain, take our FREE Teeth Whitening Evaluation and get white teeth and a great smile.