Teeth whitening is one of the highly prized cosmetic dental treatments of today. In our Insta-driven society, it’s not shocking to learn that. Digital filters aside, we humans consider white teeth a vital hallmark of beauty.
You switch on your tv in the evening after a tough day at work. A talk show comes on about some issue that you don’t really catch. However, what you can’t fail to notice is that the host and all guests flash these beautiful smiles. Oh, those pearly whites! What wouldn’t you give to have these instead of yellow teeth? Here are 10 foods that you can avoid, helping you keep those teeth pearly white.
As kiddos, we didn’t give our tooth enamel much consideration. As we age, we start to pay closer attention to things that we used to ignore. With the passing of years, the enamel of your teeth becomes dull, stained, and yellow looking. You can have your teeth professionally whitened, but without careful attention to what you eat, they will only stain again.
And, after you’ve spent your hard-earned cash on either professional treatment or home teeth whitening kits, tooth stains are the last thing you want!
We rounded up research that revealed the foods that trigger enamel stains after teeth whitening procedures. We linked out to each study in the content below (in case you’re into reading the science a bit more in-depth).
Foods to Avoid After Teeth Whitening Treatments
1 – Black coffee
Your daily drink of coffee can wreak havoc on your teeth.
Don’t you just love your morning coffee? Well, this favorite beverage has a lot of tannins. These stain your teeth. Of course, heavy coffee drinkers experience more staining.
2 – Black tea
You may have heard of the great health benefits of tea and lemon.
Despite this, tea has a lot of tannins. When combined with lemon, it becomes highly acidic. This acid attacks the enamel, exposing the yellowish dentin below it.
3 – Dark-colored fruit juices
4 – Soft drinks
Our fast lifestyles have made us prisoners to the conveniences of soda and sports drinks. These facilitate the weakening of the enamel due to the high sugar content. The brightly colored ones also do a lot of discoloring. Colas are particularly damaging and cause more stains than other beverages during studies.
5 – Wine
Wine makes the heart merry! However, both the red and white wine varieties are not so kind to your teeth. Indeed, white wine has more acidity to do long-term damage, but red wine promotes heavier initial stains.
So, enjoy that bottle with your friends. But, don’t imbibe so much that you forget to brush away the stains afterward!
6 – Slushies or popsicles
Summer can never be complete without the beach and those refreshing slushies or popsicles. But the sugar and flavoring in these two popular treats cause a lot of yellowing of your teeth.
7 – Tomato sauce & ketchup
Can you imagine French fries without a big squirt of tangy ketchup? If ketchup (and tomato sauce) can stain your hands and clothes, it will do the same to your teeth.
8 – Berries
9 – Curry
Curry is a savory and delicious spice that is made from turmeric, a yellowish herb. You may want to be a bit careful on the amount of curry you use in your Indian dishes because it will stain your teeth.
10 – Beets
Beets can be consumed in salads or as juice. Bright red beets are rich in antioxidants and great for your health. At the same time, they are notorious for causing stains on everything; including your teeth due to their vibrant red hue.
Keep Those Pearlies after Teeth Whitening Treatment
It’s a nearly impossible task to eliminate all these foods from your diet.
You absolutely can enjoy your favorite foods, as long as you carefully take care of your oral hygiene needs after you do so.
These are simple ways to prevent these ten foods (or any others!) from causing yellow teeth.
1 – Brush twice daily
Same old, same old advice you’ve heard. We won’t nag too much here. Always brush your teeth immediately after consuming these foods and drinks.
2 – Rinse your mouth
Here’s a second option. This idea is useful when you don’t have access to your toothbrush. Swish your mouth with water when you are done eating them. Three, visit your dentist every 6 months for a thorough cleaning and to discuss ways to treat discoloration of the teeth.
You’ll still need a proper brushing later, but you can eliminate some of the food particles that can cause staining immediately.
3 – Crunch on carrots
So, say you’re at a fancy-schmancy party. You don’t happen to have a toothbrush in your ballgown. Nor do you want to head off the ladies’ room and spit in the sink among present company.
Head to the table of crudites. Select a sweet nibble of crunchy veggies or fruits. Think carrots, celery, apples. These tickle your saliva glands, promoting the production. You will naturally rinse away those damaging stains. Your teeth whitening efforts will be safe and sound until you have time to wholly cleanse your mouth.
You Can Enjoy Your Favorite Treats and Maintain Your Teeth Whitening
Tooth whitening not only boosts the overall appearance of your smile and brightens your face but also amps up your self-confidence and your overall wellness. Whether you take care of addressing yellow teeth and removing tooth stains at home or at your dentist, you want to avoid new stains.
And, avoiding these foods and following up with good oral hygiene will make your teeth whitening efforts last even longer.
Have you tried teeth whitening kits or had it performed by a dentist? We’d love for you to share your outcomes with us on Facebook!
She has a B.S.Ed. in Secondary Education/English and a Spanish Minor. In addition, she holds a Certificates in Natural Health and Herbology from accredited programs. She pursued these natural wellness certifications due to her love for herb gardening.
Despite freelancing to make a living, her love is "all things home."
Deborah grew up in a family that grew a large vegetable garden and a fruit orchard, helping her parents pull weeds and can home-grown foods as part of her childhood. In fact, she had no idea that she could purchase veggies and fruits in pre-packed steel cans until she went to college and made a food run.
Today, she lives in Bertie County, North Carolina, an agricultural rural area with more chickens than people. She lives with her husband and two rescue pets a sweet toy fox terrier and a cat who showed up one day and moved into the house. Together, they enjoy DIY projects, furniture refinishing, gardening, and canning.
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