These Foods and Drinks Are Discoloring Your Teeth

A bright smile is a strong asset. Flashing your pearly whites when you walk into a room sets you up for success. But what happens if your teeth aren’t as white as you’d like?

Don’t worry. At Dental Arts of Beverly Hills, Arman Dayan, DDS, offers a full range of cosmetic dentistry services, including Zoom teeth whitening to make your teeth up to eight shades whiter in just 45 minutes. 

But once you get your smile back to white, you’re going to want to keep it that way. So make sure you avoid these foods and drinks — or at least seriously limit your consumption of them. These are some of the most staining substances out there. 

Coffee and tea

You probably already know that coffee can contribute to teeth staining. 

But it isn’t the only hot beverage that poses this problem. Tea, especially darker teas like black tea, can also stain your teeth. And even lighter-colored brews like herbal teas can cause problems. 

If you must have your morning cup of joe or tea, consider drinking it iced through a straw. That will minimize the contact it makes with your teeth. 

Also, add a splash of milk. The protein in the dairy can bind to the tannins in the tea or coffee, protecting your teeth.  

Red wine

Red wine isn’t just a danger to your pearly whites because of its color. It also contains acid that can damage your enamel, the hard outer coating of your teeth that keeps them white. 

White wine also contains acid — but without the double whammy of a stain-inducing color, too. 

Sodas and sports drinks

Between the aforementioned acid, copious amounts of sugar, and dyes, sodas and sports drinks are hard on your enamel. And if a darker drink like cola is your go-to, you’ll definitely want to scale back — or at least try to primarily use a straw. 

Dark sauces

Soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, and even BBQ sauce can all contribute to tooth discoloration. Tomato sauces can be a culprit here, too. 

A simple way to decide if a sauce could be a problem is to consider if you’d put a napkin down before eating it in light-colored pants. If it would stain your pants, it will probably stain your teeth. 

The good news? Even if you do opt for the occasional glass of red or pulled-pork sandwich, you can protect your smile’s brightness by brushing your teeth shortly after.

There’s more good news: Whenever your smile needs a touch-up, Dr. Arman will be here with fast, effective, convenient Zoom whitening. If you’re ready to brighten your smile, call our office, or book an appointment with Dental Arts of Beverly Hills online today.