We all know that regular consumption of red wine and coffee can tarnish even the most perfect set of teeth in the world… But there are a couple of unexpected food items that you need to watch out for as well, according to a cosmetic dentist.

Dr Lawrence Neville, dentist and owner of Spa Dental in Sydney, revealed that green tea, white wine and even fruit can ruin your smile.

He went on to explain that even though our teeth can appear smooth on the surface, in reality, the enamel is covered with microscopic depressions which is why they are susceptible to being stained.

Image Credit: Darrh Bryant, DMD​

“This uneven surface has a tendency to catch and hold on to stain-producing foods and beverages that come into the mouth,” he shared.

“Certain foods and beverages that are high in acid can also damage the enamel, enlarging the depressions for the stains to penetrate more deeply.”

Drinks in particular are counterproductive, with green tea as one of the worst, when it comes to teeth whitening.

“Tannins are one of the substances that are notorious for staining the tooth’s enamel, especially when consumed several times a day,” he said.

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According to some studies, the colour of your tea will also determine the colour of the staining. And surprisingly, green tea has the highest levels of tannins. Therefore, excessive consumption of these can cause grey coloured staining.

“Whereas black tea has the least staining impact and will produce a more yellow hue.”

Fruit juice is highly acidic, meaning the more you drink it, the weaker your enamel gets. When your dental health is neglected, the chances of your teeth becoming stained from other food items rockets.

“Fruit juice doesn’t stain the enamel rather it weakens the enamel and increases the likelihood of staining from other substances,” he detailed.

“Resist the urge to brush immediately after drinking fruit juice; this will exacerbate the damage to the enamel tubules that are already weakened by the acid contained in the juice.”

Image Credit: Medical News Today​

And if you enjoy indulging in a glass of wine at the end of a long day, you may need to start cutting the habit down a bit… Dr Neville added that both red and white wine are damaging for your pearly whites.

“If you are enjoying an alcoholic drink my advice is to avoid darker liquids,” he recommended.

“This should be done for 'as long as you can' following whitening treatments. Swap out red wines and dark acidic mixers like coke, for a glass of white wine or even a vodka soda.”

“Having said that, high acid drinks, such as white wine and prosecco, can weaken and damage the enamel, creating pockets in the enamel that allow other liquids to seep further into the tooth tissue.”

But it doesn’t end there – cooking sauces can also cause heavy staining, especially those containing turmeric, beetroot, and tomato!

“If you think about ingredients that stain your hands or clothes when you are cooking, these foods will also stain the tooth’s enamel,” he explained.

“Berries, such as blueberries, blackberries and strawberries, are also high in pigmentation and contribute to enamel staining,”

So, what food items have the ability to improve our smiles? Dr Neville claimed that strawberries, despite their dark colour, can actually help those choppers sparkle.

The good food. Image Credit: Fork in The Road​

“They’re packed with an enzyme known as malic acid, which naturally makes teeth whiter,” he explained.

Foods which require a lot of chewing, like cauliflower, apples and carrots are also good, he said it’s because they promote saliva production which is a wonderful, natural cleaner.

Cheese and celery also made it to the list of top foods to eat, with the doctor acknowledging the benefits of both for tooth and gum health.

And of course, getting your teeth professionally cleaned regularly can limit the risk of long-term staining.

“If you can’t resist regularly consuming these foods and drinks, make sure you drink water afterwards, and in the case of high-tannin drinks try and brush your teeth,” he said.

Besides food, there are also several other ways you can achieve or maintain a captivating smile. If you’re interested, we highly recommend you check out this awesome read by clicking here.

Are you guilty of consuming some of the food items mentioned in the naughty list? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

Learn more about which foods to avoid (and eat more) if you want a blinding smile by watching the video below:

Video Credit: Business Insider​

 

[Ricci]

This article is very confusing, in one sentence it says strawberries are bad for your teeth and in the very next sentence says that strawberries are good, go figure! I maintain that everything in moderation is good.

 

[JayKay]

The strawberry contradiction is in 2 sentences one following the other....????
Yes, totally confusing.
Moderation is the clue....