10 Oct 2019
A bright and white smile not only takes years off our appearance but also gives our confidence a boost. While teeth aren’t totally white, naturally having a light yellow to light yellow-red hue, they do tend to darken as we age. Our diet and overall eating habits may determine the fading of our pearly whites and the settling of yellowing teeth.
With age, the surface enamel begins to crack and erode exposing dentin, which absorbs food. This is what leads to stains sticking onto plaque and tartar buildup on the teeth contributing to the appearance of yellow teeth. Stained teeth do not go unnoticed by Americans, with three in four (73 percent) agreeing that yellow teeth ruin the effect of a person’s smile, according to a survey conducted by the American Dental Association and Crest. This compelled 27 percent of survey respondents to avoid eating certain foods and drinks to keep from staining their teeth.
Just like any food or drink can stain a white t-shirt, there are surprising foods that can wreak havoc on your dental health. Identify and avoid the consumption of these common culprits of teeth staining to limit the damage. Rinse your mouth afterward with water if you do choose to eat or drink them, to protect your teeth.
A cup of tea may seem like a healthier option than a cup of Joe, but not when it comes to dental health. The hot beverage contains a higher tannin content than coffee, causing lasting discoloration. “Many kinds of teas have small particles that can get into the tiny crevices of the teeth to cause typical tea stains that can make teeth look more yellow or even brown,” Drs. Matthew Nejad and Kyle Stanley, dentists at Helm | Nejad | Stanley — Dentistry in Beverly Hills, Calif., told Medical Daily in an email.
Darker-colored teas, such as English Breakfast and Earl Grey, are more likely to lead to staining. There are some varieties that can cause less damage, like green, white, and herbal teas because they’re lighter in color. If you have a rough enamel or poor dental habits, staining will occur more rapidly.
Darker liquids are among some of the common culprits of teeth staining, including soy sauce. The pigment in the sauce sticks to your teeth and causes stains. Most of the commercially available soy sauces do not use fermented soy and instead contain soy proteins with hydrochloric acid. This chemical contributes to the discoloration of your teeth and can even make them weak.
Soy sauce can also potentially kill you due to its high sodium content. A salt dose ranging from 0.75 grams to 3 grams per kilogram of body weight can kill someone, according to NPR. A tablespoon of salt weighs about 15 grams.
This dressing may be a tasty addition to your healthy salad, but it could mean bad news for your teeth. Its dark color is a giveaway that it is a tooth stainer. The vinegar acid can be damaging to the tooth enamel because it lowers the mouth’s pH level, which leads the enamel to demineralize. This makes the teeth more vulnerable to cavities, since the enamel is weaker than normal. Nejad and Stanley suggest a good rule of thumb is to “wait 30 minutes after eating or drinking acidic foods or drink to allow your mouth to return to a normal pH before brushing and flossing.”
This spice has the ability to make your dish burst with flavor and leave your teeth with a bolder shade of yellow. Although curry powder isn’t particularly dark in color, the deep and high pigment can stain teeth over time.
“Foods we eat can cause stain. That color comes from something called a chromogen, which is a pigment-producing substance that can adhere onto dental enamel and stain teeth,” Nejad and Stanley wrote. A good rule of thumb is to brush your teeth after eating curry, or rinse your mouth with water. They recommend “rinsing and swishing water immediately after consuming acidic foods or drinks” to help neutralize the mouth’s pH, minimizing erosion and staining.
Red wine may be good for the heart, but as we all know, it’s not good for your teeth. Well, neither is its lighter counterpart, white wine. A 2009 New York University study found white wine can put people at risk for tooth staining because the tannins and the acids can roughen the surface of the teeth. This makes the enamel more absorbent to food color. Nejad and Stanley note “this high acidity can slowly erode your enamel away (the white part of the teeth) to cause more dentin (the sensitive yellow part of the teeth) to show through, causing the appearance of yellow teeth.”
Berries are loaded with vitamins and antioxidants that boost our health. However, their deep, natural hues and sugar content can lead to yellowing over time. They can stick to your enamel and leave a filmy coat on your teeth regardless of whether they are eaten whole, drunk as juice, or processed jelly and jam. It’s best to drink water to combat their staining effect and finish with a glass of milk or a serving of dairy to neutralize acid and strengthen your teeth.