Is your smile looking a little less than perfect lately? We’re taught to watch the food we eat, but often forget what we drink has a direct effect on the health of our teeth as well. The tooth enamel is very porous, making it vulnerable to stains. Essentially, colored drinks are absorbed by the teeth and if embedded can lead to that yellow shade we all hate so much. To avoid the staining of your teeth, you should avoid drinking the following:
- Wine. I know you won’t be happy about this one, but the acidity of wine softens the tooth enamel, making your teeth more susceptible to staining. While most people are aware red wine can cause the teeth to stain, white wine is equally as damaging. For white teeth, you’ll want to avoid red, white, blush, and all of the above.
- Coffee. We took wine away from you and now dare we say coffee too? Yes. Coffee, like wine, is very acidic and causes the tooth enamel to soften. This makes the teeth far more susceptible to staining. Adding milk or cream to the coffee can lessen the staining effects.
- Tea. Enough already, right? Well, black teas, which contain tannins, can have the same affect as coffee on the teeth. Drinking at a high temperature also increases its staining ability. You’re better off drinking different tea blends such as herbal, white, green, etc.
- Sports drinks. Sports drinks can contain high amounts of sugar and acid, which is just the right mixture for tooth decay. Instead, grab a water bottle (it’s more effective than sports drinks anyway!).
- Colored soda. The color in soda instantaneously discolors the teeth. Additionally, the acidity can erode the enamel. Not to mention all of the sugar in soda, which leads to tooth decay.
A good rule of thumb is any drink that has a dark color is likely to stain your teeth. You should stick to drinking water. If you must drink coffee, black tea, etc. you should chew sugar free gum after to remove the stains. If you avoid drinking the drinks on this list, you’ll be amazed how much better off you are.
For more information, visit our page on tooth whitening!