10 Things To Avoid To reduce Tooth Staining

We all want to ensure that our teeth stay as white as possible so in this blog we look at 10 things you should avoid to help reduce the amount of staining on your teeth.

Wine – Red and white wine are acidic drinks that contains tannins, most commonly thought of as being in tea. This gives the drink the potential to cause a large amount of staining on your teeth.

Wherever possible try to intersperse glasses of water in between the wine, not only will this help to reduce any potential hangover the following day, it will also help to reduce the level of staining of your teeth.

Tea – Like wine, ordinary tea is rich in stain promoting tannins. Many dentists say that staining from tea can be an even bigger problem than staining from coffee which is low in tannins.

If you can’t bear the thought of giving up your morning brew why not consider switching to an herbal, green or white tea which have all been shown to have much less staining capacity.

Fizzy Drinks – Not only do you need to be concerned with the dark coloured fizzy drinks which have the ability to stain your teeth, lighter coloured drinks are sufficiently acidic that they promote the staining of teeth by other foods and drinks that you may have at the same time. Also fizzy drinks are often drunk cold and this has the effect of causing teeth to contract, making them more porous and easier to stain.

When enjoying a fizzy drink try to use a straw as this reduces the amount of drink that comes into contact with your teeth.

Pasta Sauces – Due to their acidity and bright red hue, the tomatoes in most pasta sauces can leave your teeth vulnerable to staining.

Eating dark green vegetables such as broccoli, kale and spinach beforehand creates a protective film over the teeth and reduces the tomatoes staining effect. Why not opt for a green salad as a starter?

Balsamic vinegar – Balsamic vinegar although a healthy salad dressing, can darken your teeth. This is due to its natural dark colour and the fact that it will stick to teeth.

Whenever you have a salad with balsamic vinegar, be sure to include a crunchy lettuce; chewing the lettuce will help clean the staining balsamic vinegar from your teeth as you eat.

Dark Berries – Blueberries, Blackberries, Cranberries, Cherries and other intensely coloured fruit also have the potential to cause stains. This is true no matter what form they come in whether juices, smoothies, pies or cakes.

Curry – curry’s deep pigmentation can yellow teeth over time.

Whenever you have curry, try to mix in fresh fruits and vegetables that prevent stains such as apples, carrots, cauliflower and celery.

Smoking – Smoking tobacco can cause teeth to become discoloured.

The only way to ensure that you reduce this form of staining is to quit smoking.

Certain Medication – Some medication can cause staining to your teeth over time.

If this is something you are concerned about talk to your doctor, they may be able to recommend alternatives that do have the staining ability.

Poor Oral Hygiene – The key to keep your teeth stain free is to ensure that you have a good oral hygiene routine.

Brush your teeth twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste and clean your teeth inter-dentally daily. You should always wait to brush your teeth until one hour after eating otherwise you may brush away tiny particles of the softened tooth enamel, which in the long term can expose the dentine below which is a yellow colour, which will add to any staining present.

Treatment for teeth staining

Here at West Wickham Dental Practice if you are worried about staining why not book an appointment with one of our highly trained dentist or hygienists. They are able to perform deep cleanings to remove any staining present on your teeth. They will also be able to advise you on the best oral hygiene products to ensure that your teeth stay pearly white in between visits.

If you would like more help and advice on how our hygienist can help to remove the staining present on your teeth book an appointment online, or call West Wickham Dental Practice today on 0208 776 1188