What Foods and Drinks can Stain your Teeth?

November 13, 2020

Let’s face it, we all want a beautiful bright smile. There are foods out there that can prevent that from happening. We have listed just some of the more popular choices of foods and drinks that can ruin that perfect smile.

Tomatoes and Tomato sauces
Did you know that there are high acidity levels in tomatoes?  That along with their beautiful red color, can reak havoc on the enamel of your teeth  This can expose the yellow-colored layer underneath the teeth called dentin.  This doesn’t exclude those delicious spaghetti sauces, soups, and even ketchup.

Dark Sauces
There are many different dark sauces out there that can dim your smile. Some of these dark sauces are balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, or other dark liquids that could be infused into your food.  If it’s the main base of your meal it can definitely cause risk to the enamel on your teeth.  Even the side dipping sauces can cause harm to your teeth.

Sports Drinks
Sports Drink manufacturers do a wonderful job promoting you need rehydration and electrolyte replacements.  It is easy to overlook the fact that most of these drinks have sugar content and fluorescent colors.  This is similar to soda and fruit juices.  The acid and sugar in sports drinks can sneak into the cracks of your tooth enamel causing decay.

Popsicles and Candies
Popsicles and hard candies are delicious, but they might be one of the worst things you can eat for your teeth. They’re sticky, meaning they can easily get lodged in between teeth and cause bacteria to grow. Untreated bacteria buildup can lead to tooth decay. So if you have a sweet tooth, try something less sticky and hard like low-sugar chocolate.

Soda
We all know that dark soda has the capability of discoloring our teeth.  That doesn’t mean that the clear sodas are the best to drink either. Clear sodas can eat away at the tooth enamel and leave them prone to staining as well.

Coffee
Most of us need that cup of coffee in the morning for that pick-me-up that we are looking for.  Did you know that coffee is one of the worst offenders?  It is because our teeth are so porous and they absorb that coffee when we’re drinking it. It is recommended that if you need to drink coffee to add a splash of milk to your coffee to lighten it up. Milk also has vitamin D to keep your teeth strong.

Red Wine
We have heard that red wine is good for our hearts.  Did you know that it can be bad for your beautiful smile?  Have you ever looked in the mirror after sipping on a glass of red wine and smiled?  You can see the results for yourself. On the upside, studies have shown that wine reduces inflammation, which can reduce or prevent gum disease.  

How to Prevent Teeth Staining
There are plenty of things you can do to combat the staining effects of these foods and drinks. Here’s a shortlist of tips to get you started:

  • Use a straw to help bypass most of your teeth when drinking beverages
  • Don’t hold foods or drinks longer than necessary in your mouth.
  • Drink plenty of water during and after meals to wash away food particles.
  • Brush your teeth 2 to 3 times a day. Smiles of Round lake has tips on brushing here.
  • Eat quickly, but thoroughly to minimize contact with the surface of your teeth.
  • Floss every day. You can learn more about flossing here.
  • Eat healthy snacks. Something crunchy like apples, carrots, or almonds.
  • Visit your local dentist at, Smiles of Round Lake regularly.  

We are always here at Smiles of Round Lake to keep your smile looking it’s best for you.  Give us a call if you have any questions or scheduling needs at 847-546-1542.