Foods and Drinks to Avoid to Prevent Your Teeth From Staining

Many foods and drinks can cause your smile to lose its shine, but an at-home teeth whitening kit can erase stains and discoloration. Our dentists at LANCO Dental Care in Lancaster, PA are proud to offer professional home teeth whitening solutions, including Opalescence Go™ and Pola Day, that you can apply on your own time. This state-of-the-art unique solution can reverse years of stains on your teeth.

One main reason why our teeth develop all those stains is because of the many foods and drinks we consume that contain dyes and compounds that can quickly enter our teeth and trigger significant stains.

Here’s a quick list of foods and drinks to be mindful of if you want to avoid staining your teeth.

Coffee and tea

Coffee and tea can produce stains on your teeth because of their darker colors. These drinks contain tannins, which are organic compounds that influence their flavors. Tannins can weaken the enamel on your teeth and cause the surfaces to look less attractive. The components can enter the top layers of the enamel and trigger the dark tones you might notice from regular drinking.

Coffee and tea are also acidic beverages, so they will harm the enamel. They can also irritate the gums, in some cases, making it easier for the teeth to become discolored.

Fruits and berries

Your teeth will also develop stains from various fruits. The sugars in fruits can harm the enamel and make them more vulnerable to stains. The problem is more noticeable with blueberries, blackberries, and other berries with more pronounced colors and tones. They also have acids that can soften the enamel and influence their appearance in Lancaster, PA.

Various candies

Candies are harmful to your teeth, as their added sugars will break down the enamel. But the artificial colorings and dyes in these candies can be even worse on your teeth than what you’d get from coffee, tea, and fruits. Any candy that might cause your tongue to change color will also do the same with your teeth, as the coloring compounds are very strong.

Carbonated drinks

Carbonated drinks contain carbon dioxide. The compound dissolves when preparing the drink, and it then becomes a gas when it warms up to body temperature after you consume the drink. The expansion of carbon dioxide can cause irritation in your stomach. The gas can also heat and soften the teeth as it expands and moves.

Contact us today to learn more about our home teeth whitening treatments

These foods are all harmful to your teeth in many ways, but they are all alike in how they can produce stains all over the teeth. These stains can be annoying and often hard to manage, but they don’t have to be a burden if you plan a smart diet. Be sure to avoid these foods when possible and keep from consuming more of them than necessary to ensure your teeth stay healthy.

You can also request help from a teeth whitening service if you need to remove any stains produced by these foods and drinks. We provide convenient home teeth whitening treatments for your use at LANCO Dental Care in Lancaster, PA to help you remove years of stains from your teeth. Schedule an appointment for services today, and get started on your path to a healthier and happier smile.