What foods stain teeth?

Due to the passage of time and some bad habits, tooth enamel can lose its characteristic bright white color. Tooth stains are one of the oral and dental alterations that most concern the general population. They are largely due to the frequent ingestion of certain beverages and foods that stain teeth. Although for most people it is not possible to stop eating foods that cause teeth to darken little by little, knowing which are the most harmful to the white of the enamel could help to restrict them in the diet. Let's see which foods stain teeth most frequently, what consequences they have for the health and esthetics of teeth, and what recommendations experts make to keep teeth whiter through diet.

What drinks and foods stain teeth?

Detecting which foods are the most damaging to the whiteness of your teeth is very simple. You only have to pay attention to those foods and beverages with strong colors, which usually stain and leave traces of natural colorants. But these are not the only ones. Foods and beverages rich in sugars, acids and other substances harmful to tooth enamel can also color teeth without our noticing. These include the following:

Acidic foods

Foods that have a strong acidic taste are very appealing to many people, but not very beneficial for the teeth. Frequent intake of acidic foods contributes to the demineralization of tooth enamel, which weakens over time and can become discolored. Among these foods we find citrus fruits, fruits such as pineapple, kiwi or red fruits. This does not mean that you have to eliminate them completely from your diet, but to take them in a balanced way, compensating their consumption with other less acidic fruits such as apples, peaches or watermelon.

Brightly coloured fruits and vegetables

There are other fruits and a wide variety of vegetables that have a large amount of natural dyes that can easily stain teeth. Among them we find cherries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and of course beets. They are products of vegetable origin that provide antioxidants very beneficial for the organism. These can be taken without any problem, but at the end it is advisable to remove the remains conscientiously through toothbrushing.

Carbonated beverages

Carbonated beverages such as soft drinks combine the effect of the two previous food groups. On the one hand, the gas in these beverages demineralizes the enamel, so that the protective layer gradually diminishes over the years when excessive consumption occurs. On the other hand, the large amount of colorants in carbonated beverages ends up passing to the teeth, staining them progressively. If we add to this the sugar contained in most soft drinks, the risk of caries and dental stains is much higher.

Coffee and tea

Coffee and tea are two must-haves for many people who drink them frequently. They are also among the drinks that tend to stain teeth the most, increasing the staining depending on the amount consumed daily. Unfortunately, there is no alternative or remedy to stop coffee from staining teeth. Instead, if you usually drink tea, and you want to avoid the natural staining of your teeth, try substituting black or red tea for green tea, which contains less tannins.

Wine

You probably already know that red wine is another beverage that stains teeth. However, white wine is not spared either. Due to their high acidity and high tannin content, both white wine and red wine damage and darken the enamel slowly, if consumed excessively.

Sauces and vinegar

In addition to these foods that stain teeth, we should add others that are frequently consumed and can directly affect the color of teeth. Among them we find ultra-processed foods containing dyesThe use of sherry vinegar, for example, candies or sauces such as soy or ketchup, should be avoided. Sherry vinegar, which has an intense color, and especially Modena vinegar, which has a high acidity and sugar content, should be consumed in moderation if you want to show off a whiter smile.

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Can food stains on teeth be removed?

Once stains have appeared on the teeth due to the consumption of certain foods and drinks, there are different alternatives to remove them.

First of all, it is necessary to determine the origin of these stains, and to do so, it is best to contact a professional. The lightest dental stains can be removed by brushing. It is essential to brush your teeth after every meal, using a whitening toothpaste. whitening toothpaste and cleaning the interproximal spaces with dental floss. For stubborn stains, Laboratorios KIN has a special treatment consisting of a whitening toothpaste and whitening toothpaste gel contained in the same package. The innovative WhiteKIN system, sold exclusively in dental clinics, can be applied at home with a simple regular brushing, effectively and comfortably eliminating tooth discolorations. In addition to these options, it is possible to go to the dental clinic for a professional cleaning or teeth whitening to remove deeper stains.