Stains - What Are The Worst Food and Drinks
When thinking about what foods and drinks are going to stain your teeth the worst, there’s a simple trick to remember.
If it stains your clothes, it will stain your tooth enamel.
There are 4 causes in food and drinks that cause stains.
- They contain chromogens. These are colored chemical compounds.Essentially chemicals that can be converted into dyes. I’m looking at you, red, red wine.
- They are acidic. Acid temporarily weakens the enamel. This makes it easier for chromogens to stain.
- Foods or drinks taken at high or low temperatures. These temperature changes can cause small cracks in the enamel
- They contain tannins. Tannins are found in many drinks (think of tea bags on your tongue). They demineralize enamel leaving less protection and more holes for chromogens to stain.
Okay. Now you know these 4 characteristics but what foods are these actually in?
Before we share the list, remember that just because these foods have the potential to stain your teeth, they shouldn’t all be avoided since some are actually quite healthy.
The idea is to:
- Use in moderation
- Avoid them in high or low temperatures
- Brush your teeth after eating or drinking.
The Worst Staining Offenders:
Coffee - 4/4 strikes
It’s hard to hear. I know. But facts are that coffee contains dark color pigments, it’s acidic and most people drink it piping hot.
Tea - 4/4 strikes
Black coffee in particular can cause staining because it has more tannins. English teeth anyone?
Soda & Energy Drinks - 3/4 strikes
No surprise here. They’re acidic, usually contain artificial food dyes and people drink them cold. They are also packed with sugar, which causes decay.
Balsamic vinegar - 2/4 strikes
It’s delicious, but it can also stain your teeth! Balsamic vinegar contains dark pigments that stick easily to the enamel due to the fact that this product is highly acidic and rich in sugar.
Ketchup and Tomato Sauces - 2/4 strikes
They are great with burgers,hotdogs and fries but they do a real number on your teeth. These concentrated sauces are rich in color pigments and highly acidic.
Red Wine - 3/4 strikes
This one does a number on your carpet and also your teeth. Dyes, tannins and acidity are all present when you drink red wine so it's a good idea to brush immediately after!
Of course, some staining is inevitable unless you’re interested in eating a diet of celery for the rest of your life.
For the rest of us, teeth whitening products are a healthy way to fight back against stains.
They are safe to use, easy to use and effective on most stains from food, drinks and smoking. They should be used
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