Avoid These Foods for a Brighter Smile

The best way to restore your bright smile is with professional teeth whitening products and cosmetic dental procedures. But, you can avoid stains and keep your teeth white by practicing good daily habits.  The most effective measure is to watch what you eat and drink. There are many foods to avoid if you want to maintain your pearly whites.

Foods to Avoid to Keep Your Teeth White

Some foods are well-known for causing teeth staining, including many nutritious items. As a rule, limit consumption of these darkly pigmented foods. If you choose to eat them, be sure to clean your mouth afterward.

Teeth staining foods to avoid, include:

• Berries: Although berries over a bounty of nutrition, including powerful antioxidant protection, they are rich in plant pigments that also cause teeth discoloration. You don’t have to eliminate berries completely from your diet, just drink lots of water and rinse out your mouth after eating.
• Soy Sauce: Dark sauces can dull teeth enamel. If you enjoy dipping your favorite Asian treats in soy sauce, do so in moderation, and brush your teeth when you are done eating.
• Tomato Sauce: Over time, tomato sauce can discolor teeth. To prevent staining, try starting your pasta meal with a serving of tossed salad, broccoli or spinach. These vegetables will provide a protective coating, making it more difficult for the sauce to penetrate teeth enamel.

Say No to these Beverages to Keep Your Teeth White

Like some of the foods we eat, certain drinks can also rob you of your bright smile. Some beverages are even more staining than foods because they spread throughout your mouth leave a coating with every sip.

A few of the worst teeth staining beverages include:

• Coffee: Not surprisingly, coffee is one of the most common culprits. Drinking water after a cup of Joe may help remove residue. Also, adding milk may reduce the teeth staining effect.
• Tea: Up there as a top tooth staining culprit is tea. The tannins in tea discolor enamel. Herbal varieties and white or green teas cause less staining than black teas.
• Red Wine: The occasional sip of red wine may be good for your cholesterol level, but it can wreak havoc on your bright smile. If you can’t live without your wine indulgence, consider switching to white or rinse your mouth after drinking a glass of red.
• Cranberry Juice: Deep, red fruit juices are great for your body, but not so good for your teeth. Instead of drinking cranberry juice straight up, try mixing it with seltzer or opting for a lighter hued juice.
• Dark-Colored Sodas: Besides the staining colors, soda is loaded with sugar that is damaging to teeth and high in empty calories. If you crave carbonation, seltzers offer bubbly gratification without the sugar or the teeth staining.

You can avoid having to undergo teeth whitening if you take the daily steps to keep your teeth white. With a little diligence, you manage teeth staining and keep your whole mouth healthy.