Why do the things that we love to eat and drink have some of the worst impacts on our own health? Even getting your daily coffee in every morning can lead to stained teeth if you aren’t careful.
Many other foods and beverages can cause a yellowing smile and make you look older than you actually are. You might think that you could never drink enough wine or coffee to turn your teeth to a shade of brown; read on to learn more about how easy it is to cause teeth stains when you consume the wrong things regularly.
Here is a list of good and bad foods and beverages that can lead to stains and some tips that will help you be able to enjoy the good ones.
Tea and Coffee
Tea and coffee are very popular beverages for the morning, afternoon and evening, and they can provide us with a feeling of comfort and energize us. Both tea and coffee contain stain-causing tannins as well as helpful benefits like positively impacting the metabolic system, you can still enjoy them and avoid staining by adding in dairy or dairy replacement to help reduce the impacts.
Red Wine
Red wine has many antioxidants that help protect you against risks of heart disease and inflammation. However, since it is very dark in colour, you can only avoid staining by enjoying this beverage on special occasions. However, white wine does not stain, so you can always go with white instead.
Tomato Sauce
Tomatoes have a long line of essential nutrients, and they also have a beautiful deep red pigment that unfortunately causes stains. Eating some fresh tomatoes in olive oil can be a great way to enjoy your tomatoes’ flavour without risking the staining effects.
Balsamic Vinegar
Balsamic vinegar is known as a very flavourful vinegar, which is known to reduce cholesterol and to help stabilize blood pressure. However, because it also contains a large amount of tannins and deep colouring, it is best to use it in moderation in your food. The good news is that it has such a powerful flavour that you only need a little bit to go a long way.
Curry
The deep yellow found in curry is thanks to a spice known as turmeric, which is known to have many health benefits, including reducing risks of heart disease, Alzheimer’s and cancer. It is also an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, which improves symptoms of depression and arthritis. Unfortunately, there is no fix to consuming this favourite, so just try to avoid getting it in anything white.
Berries
The darker the berries you are consuming, the more staining they will cause. However, they do contain many vitamins, so they’re great to eat as a snack. If you are really concerned about staining, then just stick to lighter-coloured berries and avoid eating dark blue ones like blueberries and blackberries.