We all strive for a beautiful white smile that lets our confidence shine through. If you’ve invested your time and energy into teeth whitening, the last thing you want to do is expose your bright new smile to the foods and beverages that will stain your teeth again. Some staining foods and drinks are well known, but you may be surprised to find out about many others.
One rule of thumb is to think about foods and beverages that would stain a white T-shirt. If a substance can stain a white cotton shirt, it makes sense that it could also stain your brilliant white teeth. This is an easy way to remember foods and beverages that readily stain like:
- Beets
- Coffee
- Tea
- Red Wine
- Grape Juice
- Tomato Sauce and Ketchup
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Soy Sauce
- Berries
- Foods, beverages, or candy with artificial colors
Other foods that can contribute to stains are far less obvious. These foods often cause damage to your tooth enamel due to high acidity. Once the enamel is eroded, your teeth are susceptible to absorbing stains from nearly everything that comes into contact with them. Examples of these foods and beverages include:
- White wine
- Salad dressings
- Soda—even colorless ones
- Orange Juice
- Pickles
Another serious threat to enamel and tooth appearance is sugars. Sugary foods and drinks that are also acidic, like soda, alcohol, and many juices are some of the worst culprits, even if they are colorless. However, foods like crackers and bread can also be a problem because refined carbohydrates are the perfect sugary food to allow oral bacteria to grow.
If you want to learn more about the teeth whitening options we offer, please contact Dentonics using the form on this page or call 412-487-6910 today to schedule a cosmetic dentistry consultation. We serve patients in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area.
