5 Foods That Stain Your Teeth

The health of our teeth is important and it starts with the foods that we eat.
This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.

After my morning cup of coffee, leftover pasta with tomato sauce for lunch, and snacking on some fresh cherries, I combed over my finalized list of foods that stain your teeth and realized how many foods on that list that I had just eaten. On a daily basis, we consume an array of foods that really do have an effect on the color of our teeth. From what beverage you choose for your morning jolt to the sauce you pair with lunch, these are foods to be aware of, and it helps to keep a brush at your desk.

Sometimes, you can't avoid these foods -- and many of them are healthy choices. Depriving yourself of fresh summer fruits and berries isn't an option, but you can do some things to help fight stains. First of all, don't let stain-causing foods and drinks stay in your mouth for long. Instead, swallow and chew them quickly to help protect your teeth. It's also important to rinse and brush after eating.

Another tip is to use a straw to sip on some of these drinks. This way, the liquids are kept away from your teeth and reduce the risk of staining. While iced coffee and tea are easy to drink through a straw, hot beverages and wine are more difficult. Be sure to rinse with a sip of water in between and after drinking.

There are quite a few drinks and foods that can cause teeth staining, but you can adopt some of these habits to reduce the discoloration effects. The health of our teeth is important and it starts with the foods that we eat -- check out this list to see how you can help your teeth avoid being at risk for stains.

Tea
Tea has many great health benefits, but black teas and other dark-hued teas can cause teeth staining. Try adding some milk into these dark teas or sticking to green, white, or herbal teas. Photo Credit: iStock_thinkstockClick Here to see More of the Foods That Stain Your Teeth
Berries
Berries like blueberries, blackberries, cherries, and other brightly colored fruits can stain teeth. The juices from berry pies or tarts can also cause discoloration. Try opting for light colored grapes instead or just be sure to brush and floss because the acidic components can harm tooth enamel.Photo Credit: iStock_thinkstock
Red Wine
Who can resist a glass of red wine with a nice dinner? Just make sure to drink water and swoosh it around in your mouth in between sips, because the acidic content of red wine can cause staining and wear away tooth enamel. Photo Credit: iStock_thinkstockClick Here to see More of the Foods That Stain Your Teeth
Hard Candy
You know how candy sometimes turns your mouth and tongue a different color? Well, it does the same to your teeth. Eat these candies in moderation to avoid permanent teeth staining.Photo Credit: iStock_thinkstock
Coffee
Dark roast coffee is a known culprit of staining teeth. Try adding some milk or cream to help dilute some of the pigment, and make sure to drink water afterwards.Click Here to see More of the Foods That Stain Your Teeth Photo Credit: iStock_thinkstock

-Emily Jacobs, The Daily Meal

Popular in the Community

Close

HuffPost Shopping’s Best Finds

MORE IN LIFE