3 of the Worst Drinks for Staining Teeth

January 12, 2015

Generally speaking, white teeth are healthy teeth. That’s why the look of sparkling white teeth is considered attractive. That said, just because teeth are stained does not make them unhealthy either. There are plenty of items out there that can stain your teeth. Luckily, thanks to sophisticated teeth whitening practices we have the ability to dramatically change the colour of discoloured teeth.

If you’ve had your teeth whitened, or your teeth are already pretty white, there are some items you can avoid (or at least limit your consumption of), that will help keep your teeth pearly white.

Dark Coloured Pop (Coca Cola, Pepsi etc.)

Dark coloured pop can have a significant staining impact on your teeth. Of course, from a dental perspective, it’s not just about the discolouration that pop can cause. The sugar in pop can also cause problems for your teeth as well, as the sugar creates an excellent environment for bacteria that then become plaque. Try and cut your pop consumption to as little as possible. If you must drink pop, try and drink it through a straw.

Red Wine

The Okanagan is a great place to be for wine lovers, however red wine can severely stain your teeth. White wine has an impact too, but white wine’s staining power is much more muted. If you can’t live without your glass of red, try and limit your intake and make sure you rinse your mouth out with water afterwards.

Coffee/Tea

Coffee or tea is considered essential to most of us in the morning. However, these vital beverages can quickly make your teeth look dingy. Again, try and limit your intake. If you can cut your consumption down to one cup a day, that will certainly help (of course, none is better, but we’re being realistic)! Try and always take your coffee or tea with milk, cream or substitute as this will also limit the staining impact. Like red wine, drinking sips of water in between your drinks of coffee can help to rinse away some of those staining agents before they can really sink into your tooth enamel.

If you have any questions about your oral health please contact us.

(Photo: Deathsplanation)