Dental enamel can lose its characteristic bright white colour over time. Stains on the teeth are one of the oral disorders that most worry the general population. To a large extent these are due to the frequent intake of some drinks and foods that stain the teeth .
It may not be possible to stop eating all foods that cause the teeth to darken little by little, but knowing which are the most harmful to the white of the enamel could help to restrict them in the diet.
Lets take a look at which are the foods most frequently stain teeth, what consequences they have for the health and aesthetics of teeth, and what recommendations experts make to keep teeth whiter through diet.
What drinks and foods stain teeth?
Detecting the foods that most attack the white of the teeth is very simple. You just have to look at those foods and drinks that have strong colours , which tend to stain and leave traces of natural dyes.
But these are not the only ones. Foods and drinks rich in sugars, acids and other substances that are harmful to tooth enamel can also color teeth without us realizing it. Among them are the following:
Acidic foods
Foods that have a strong sour taste are very attractive to many people, but not very beneficial for teeth. Frequent intake of acidic foods contributes to the demineralization of tooth enamel , which weakens over time and may discolor.
Among these foods we find citrus fruits, fruits such as pineapple, kiwi or red fruits. This does not mean that you have to completely eliminate them from your diet, but take them in a balanced way, compensating for their consumption with other less acidic fruits such as apples, peach or watermelon.
Brightly colored 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 also beets. They are products of plant origin that provide very beneficial antioxidants for the body. These can be taken without problem, but when finished it is advisable to thoroughly remove the remains through tooth brushing.
Carbonated drinks
Carbonated drinks such as soft drinks combine the effect of the two previous food groups. On the one hand, the gas from these drinks demineralizes the enamel , so that the protective layer diminishes over the years when excessive consumption occurs.
On the other hand, the large amount of dyes present in soft drinks end up passing to the teeth, progressively staining them. If we add to this the sugar that most soft drinks contain, the risk of suffering from cavities and dental stains is much higher.
Coffee and tea
Coffee and tea are two essentials for many people who drink frequently. They are also one of the drinks that most often stain teeth , increasing the coloration according to the amount consumed daily.
Unfortunately, there is no alternative or remedy to ensure that coffee does not stain your teeth. Instead, if you usually drink tea, and you want to avoid natural staining of your teeth, try substituting black or red tea for a green tea that contains less tannins.
Red wine
Surely you already know that red wine is another drink that stains teeth. However, white wine is not spared either.
Due to their high acidity and high tannin content, both white and red wines slowly damage and darken enamel if consumed excessively.
Sauces and vinegars
In addition to these foods that stain the teeth, we must add others of frequent consumption that can directly affect the color of the dental pieces. Among them we find ultra-processed foods that contain dyes , such as candies or sauces such as soy or ketchup.
Sherry vinegar, with its intense color, and especially Modena vinegar, which has a high acidity and sugar content, should be consumed very sparingly if you want to show off a whiter smile.
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 eliminate them.
First of all, it is necessary to determine the origin of these stains, and for this, it is best to put yourself in the hands of a professional.
Lighter dental stains can be removed by brushing. It is essential to brush the teeth after each meal, using a suitable whitening toothpaste and cleaning the interproximal spaces with dental floss.
For difficult stains, Laboratorios KIN has a special treatment made up of a whitening toothpaste and gel contained in the same container. The innovative WhiteKIN system, allows its application from home with a simple regular brushing, effectively and comfortably eliminating dental discolorations.
In addition to these options, it is possible to go to the dental clinic to do a professional cleaning or teeth whitening and remove the deepest stains.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- What foods and drinks stain your teeth and which ones benefit them? – Illustrious Official College of Dentists and Stomatologists of Valencia
- Dental stains – Professional College of Dental Hygienists of Madrid
- Forner L., et al. Therapeutic effectiveness of a new enzymatic bleaching dentifrice. Eur J Esthet Dent. Spring 2012;7(1):62-70.
