Top Foods and Drinks That Cause Teeth Stains

Want a sparkling smile? Watch out for these sneaky stainers! Discover the top foods & drinks that can discolour your teeth and learn how to minimise the damage.

A morning cup of coffee. A flavoursome curry at lunch. A glass of red wine with dinner. Dark chocolate for dessert. Enjoying our favourite foods and drinks is one of life’s greatest pleasures. But did you know your favourite foods might be staining your teeth and worsening that yellowish discolouration that leaves you self-conscious of your smile?

Many common foods and drinks can stain your teeth, and over time, lead to noticeable changes in your smile. Let’s take a look at the foods most notorious for staining and discolouration, and how you can keep your teeth looking their best – without giving up your favourite foods and drinks.

Beverages that Stain Teeth

Coffee

Coffee is one of the most common culprits for stained teeth. Drinking coffee regularly is known to lead to gradual discolouration that dulls your teeth. This is because coffee is high in in tannins, a bitter-tasting chemical that makes colour compounds stick to your teeth, causing the brownish-yellow staining that often makes us hide our smile.

Tea

Tea, particularly black tea, is also high in tannins, and regular tea-drinking can lead to noticeable differences in your teeth over time. Green teas can lead to a dull, greyish smile, and even some herbal teas can lead to discolouration when consumed regularly. Tea and coffee, especially when drunk black, are among the strongest and most common stainers.

Red Wine

Red wine doesn’t just stain your clothes and carpets. It’s also well known for staining teeth, especially when drunk regularly. Red wine contains tannins along with anthocyanins, the pigment that gives grapes their colour, which can leave purply-red staining on the surface of your teeth. Red wine is also acidic, which can increase your enamel’s porosity and lead to deeper, darker staining. White wine, while acidic, does not contain the same staining pigments, and can be a better choice if you’re concerned about stained teeth.

Soft Drinks and Sports Drinks

Soft drinks, especially dark flavours like colas, also feature the combination of pigments and acid that’s perfect for staining and discolouring teeth. The low PH level makes enamel more porous, and more susceptible to brown and yellow staining from the dyes that give sodas their colour. Similarly, many sports drinks are highly acidic and feature colourful dyes that can leave unpleasant stains on your teeth. Both sodas and sports drinks are high in sugars that feed bacteria, which can lead to cavities and tooth decay.

Foods That Stain Teeth

Berries and Fruits

While fruits are a great choice for a healthy snack and an essential part of a healthy diet, certain fruits are known to stain teeth when consumed in large quantities or without proper dental hygiene. Strongly pigmented fruits such a cherries and pomegranates, along with dark berries like blackberries and raspberries, are especially prone to staining. Many fruits are also strongly acidic, and like acidic beverages, acidic foods can weaken enamel and leave teeth more vulnerable to staining.

Tomato-based sauce

Most sauces, stews and casseroles based on tomatoes also have the potential to discolour your teeth, and once again, it’s due to the combination of acidity and pigments. While delicious, tomato sauces can be wear down your enamel, which can lead to deeper, darker staining that can’t be removed with simple brushing.

Dark Sauces and Curries

Like dark beverages, dark sauces have the potential to discolour your teeth. Soy sauce is especially to blame, as it is so concentrated and high in sodium. Curries are also potential culprits. While curries vary widely, many contain a compound called curcumin, which gives many curries their rich yellow-brown colour, and can lead to similar yellow-brown staining on your teeth.

Tips to Minimise Staining:

You don’t have to avoid your favourite foods and drinks for the sake of your smile. There are easy ways you can reduce the risk of stained teeth.

• Rinse your mouth with water shortly after consuming staining food or drinks.
• Wait 30 minutes, then brush your teeth after eating staining foods.
• Use a straw to limit contact between your teeth and staining drinks.
• Consider alternatives – white wine instead of red, or sugar-free drinks to discourage bacteria growth.
• Maintain good oral hygiene with regular brushing and flossing, and schedule regular check-ups with your dentist.

Maintaining a Bright Smile

Generally, if a food can stain a white shirt, it can stain your teeth. But with proper dental care and a few easy precautions, you can reduce your risk of stained and discoloured teeth without giving up your morning coffee or leaving the soy sauce off your sushi.

If you’ve already noticed some dental discolouration, or if stained teeth have you hiding your smile, there are plenty of options to lift and lighten stains and restore your pearly whites to their brilliant best. A whitening toothpaste can be a quick and easy option to address surface level staining, while deeper discolouration can be treated with at-home whitening kits, whitening strips, or professional dental treatments. The Polished London Teeth Whitening Pen can be used to help keep stains at bay. This compact pen can be easily carried in your purse or bag and can be applied anywhere, anytime. Apply to your teeth after drinking your coffee to help prevent stains, or apply 30-60 minutes before eating to help reduce stain build up.

For more information and useful tips about stained teeth, oral health and teeth whitening, explore the Polished London blog, or browse our range of safe and effective whitening options online or in store at Priceline Pharmacies Australia-wide.