Food and Drinks that Stain Your Teeth

If you’re determined to keep your pearly whites actually white, then you probably already brush your teeth daily and see your dentist periodically, but brushing is often not enough to keep your smile bright. This is because a lot of the foods and drinks we consume can stain our teeth.

The staining power of food and beverages depends on two factors, and the first is the color of the food. Intensely colored foods and beverages tend to be the worst for our teeth. If you would be worried about spilling a certain food or drink on a white tablecloth, you can bet that it has the potential to stain your teeth. The color in food comes from chromogens, which are highly pigmented molecules that have the tendency to latch onto tooth enamel. The second factor that determines staining power is a food or beverage’s acidity level. Acidic food and drinks, even those that are not brightly colored, can promote stains by eroding the dental enamel, temporarily softening teeth and making it easier for chromogens to stick.

The top teeth-staining foods and beverages that you should avoid for whiter teeth are wine, tea, soda, sports drinks, berries, sauces and sweets. To minimize staining without forgoing your favorite foods and drinks, you can try using a straw, swallowing promptly and swishing with water. This minimizes the amount of time the acidic and colorful food is in contact with your teeth.

If you’re still unhappy with the color of your teeth after practicing good oral hygiene, you can also come to our practice in Silver Spring, MD for teeth whitening services. Dr. David Bishop and Dr. Dorienne Taylor-Bishop offer teeth whitening services that can whiten your teeth up to 10 shades! To schedule an appointment, call (301) 608-9270. For more information about Bishop & Bishop Dental, visit www.bishopdental.com.