Foods that stain teeth
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Lots of foods and beverages can stain teeth. It’s useful to know which they are, and, because it’s almost impossible to list them all, it’s also useful to know why some foods are so successful at staining teeth.
Teeth are stained when the enamel — the hard exterior surface of a tooth — absorbs some of the colouration of the food or drink responsible for leaving a stain.
Foods and Drinks that can Stain Teeth
In staining, two factors are at play: making the enamel more vulnerable to staining, and the staining agent itself.
Vulnerable Enamel
Teeth are made more vulnerable to staining when their enamel is softened, and consequently more porous. Numerous factors can cause tooth softening, but the primary one is acidity. Highly acidic food and drink are the most likely to stain teeth. Even if they are not in themselves highly pigmented, acidic foods and drinks are the most likely to soften enamel in such a way that highly pigmented foods will leave discoloration.
A second factor in tooth staining are food compounds called tannins (acidic polyphenols), which, while not pigments themselves, nonetheless aid pigments in bonding to tooth enamel. Grapes, green tea, and persimmons are all tannin-rich.
Staining Agents
In general, foods that are the most intensely colored are the most likely to stain teeth. If a food or drink is likely to stain material such as a white tablecloth, it is also a substance likely to stain teeth. The staining agent in food is molecules called chromogenes, intensely pigmented molecules that fasten to tooth enamel.
Drinks that Can Stain Teeth
Red wine
Red wine is a major source of stained teeth, for a combination of reasons. It contains tannins, which aid pigments in binding to teeth; it is acidic, which softens tooth enamel; it is often strongly coloured; and it is often held in the mouth. Combined, these make red wine one of the worst sources of stains.
White wine
If you thought you could get away with white wine instead of red to avoid staining, think again. Although lacking much colour, white wine has all the other potential tooth staining characteristics. When combined with a pigmented food, white wine assists in tooth staining.
Tea
My condolences, but tea is a common cause of tooth staining. For my part, I will nurse a mug of tea for hours, which leads to tooth staining. Tea has all the components to be an effective tooth stainer. Rich in tannins, green teas tend to stain teeth grey, and black teas tend to stain teeth yellow. Herbal teas are less likely to stain as deeply, as are teas served with milk added.
Coffee
Coffee is slightly less aggressive in staining teeth than tea, as it lacks the tannins found in tea. Like tea, coffee will stain less with milk or cream added, but both drinks tend to be consumed over a period of time, increasing the degree of exposure to teeth.
Balsamic vinegar
Acidic and darkly coloured, balsamic vinegar is an effective tooth-stainer. On the plus side, few people make it a large part of their diets. Another upside is that lettuce may actually protect to a degree against staining by putting a film on teeth that will help resist staining, so your salads might just break even.
Colas
So, apart from the fact that their sugar is bad for your teeth, and that they lack in nutrition, you can now add colas to your blacklist because they will stain your teeth as well. They have both acidic character and colouring.
Sports drinks
Sports drinks — Gatorade and others — are not much different from colas in their effects. While they may not be carbonated, they do often have the acidity that preps you teeth to accept colouration, or staining.
Slushies
Just like colas and sports drinks, slushies are a source of staining, and for the same reasons.
Soy sauce
Soy sauce, like many dark coloured liquids, can stain teeth. If you are also trying to limit sodium in your diet, then limiting how much soy sauce you take has dual benefits.Foods That Can Stain Teeth
Blueberries, blackberries, pomegranates
Some of the most powerful staining agents are found in some of the tastiest fruits. Cherries and others can be added to this group. While providing beneficial antioxidants, these foods have the down side of also staining teeth.
Beets
The strong red pigmentation of beets makes them a frequent source of staining. Whether in a salad, cooked, fried, or in a borscht, beets retain their colouring and can easily stain teeth.
Curry
Curry is noted for its ability to stain teeth, giving them a yellowish tinge. Turmeric, a frequent component of curries, is the usual culprit, but other spices such as saffron and cumin can also stain. Most curries will contain some of these components.
Tomato sauce
Tomato sauces contain both acidity and colour, making them a powerful (and widely eaten) source of tooth staining.
Acidic foods
Open table
Acidic foods generally cause softening of tooth enamel, allowing tooth staining. In this category consider citrus fruits, even if they are not strongly pigmented in themselves.
Sweets
Sweets provide two sources of tooth staining. First, they are often coloured, as is evident from the look of your tongue after eating them. These food colours can leave tooth staining. Second, and more important, sweets provide food for bacteria to grow, and in growing to produce acids that soften tooth enamel.While many foods can stain teeth, remember to keep a balance in your approach. It so happens that tooth-staining foods can sometimes be very healthy options, and should not be bypassed in the interests of avoiding any chance of tooth staining. Instead, enjoy them and follow other steps to minimize their staining effects.
Avoiding staining
A few simple steps will reduce the ability of staining foods and drinks to discolor your teeth. In addition to simply avoiding certain drinks, using a straw will work to keep the staining drink away from the teeth, especially the front teeth. For both drinks and foods swallowing promptly, swishing with water, chewing sugar-free gum, and brushing regularly will also reduce discoloration.
In addition to foodstuffs and beverages, it is important to remember that smoking and chewing tobacco are primary causes of tooth staining: avoid these too for the whitest teeth..
Sherway Gardens Dental Centre offers tooth whitening among their dental services. Contact us today for more information.