What foods stain your teeth?

Have you noticed that your teeth are looking more yellow? It may be down to some of the foods in your usual diet. At the Oralitá Barcelona dental clinic, we recommend avoiding or cutting down on the following foods, as their type or nature means they stain your teeth.

Red wine: As much as this news may sadden us, drinking red wine frequently darkens your teeth. This is because it contains tannins, a natural chemical substance found in grape skins and seeds and in wooden barrels. And that’s not all: the alcohol in wine and its acidity help to reduce the saliva in your mouth, which interferes with your mouth’s natural cleaning process. Conclusion: if you want to keep enjoying one of the most delicious products of Spanish gastronomy, red wine, we recommend taking sips of water as you go to rinse the area and keep yourself hydrated.

Coffee: Are you a coffee lover? Well, this might be painful to read, but… coffee can cause stains on your teeth. It is one of the most widely consumed drinks in the world and, what’s more, it is often mixed with a sweetener, which makes your oral health worse. However, there are medical studies stating that it has not been scientifically proven that drinking coffee is harmful to periodontal health. Even so, the advice is to “moderate your consumption of coffee, tea, alcohol and fizzy drinks to keep your teeth white”.

Beetroot: This vegetable has a very high pigment content and can stain your teeth and make them darker. We recommend eating less of it or balancing it with other foods that help to absorb the pigment.

Red berries: These forest fruits that grow on bushes are not only delicious, but they also contain a very high level of pigment. You need to be careful!

Tea: Tea, like wine, contains tannins, which stain your teeth. The tea that most affects the colour of your teeth is black tea. Be careful and drink it in moderation.