Watch Out! These Foods and Drinks Can Stain Your Teeth (+Tips)

There are few things that make us feel more confident than a bright, white smile. However, many people struggle with staining on their teeth, which can reduce your smile’s radiance and, thus your confidence. 

What many people don’t realize is that certain foods and drinks can contribute to tooth discoloration, causing your teeth to take on a brown or yellow hue and minimizing how you feel about your smile. 

If you want to maintain your best smile, it is important you understand which food and drink stains your teeth, so you know what to avoid or consume in moderation. To help you make better decisions about what you consume to promote a bright smile, we have put together this handy guide filled with everything you need to know.

Let’s get into it! 

Foods and Drinks That Stain Teeth 

The good news is that not all foods stain your teeth, however, this does mean that you need to know which ones do. This allows you to make informed decisions as to whether to consume these foods and risk staining, 

Dark-Colored Beverages 

The most commonly consumed culprit of tooth staining is dark-colored beverages. Coffee and tea, particularly black tea have been known to stain teeth and leave them less than pearly white over time. 

However, coffee and tea aren’t the only culprits under this category. Red wine can also stain your teeth, so you may want to think twice before having a glass with dinner. 

Additionally, dark-colored sodas and juices can also stain your teeth due to the dark pigment in the beverage. In particular, cola, grape juice, and cranberry juice can discolor your teeth with unsightly stains. 

Highly Pigmented Foods 

Foods that are high in pigment can also stain your teeth over time, so it is important to watch out for these if you are trying to achieve a pearly white smile. Foods that are the most likely to stain your teeth are fruits, such as pomegranates, blueberries, blackberries, and cherries. Additionally, beets with their bright purple pigment can stain and discolor teeth.

You may also be surprised to learn that curry can stain your teeth. This is because the spices commonly used in curry are high in color pigment, which can leave residue in your mouth and stain your teeth. 

You should also keep an eye on your intake of certain condiments such as soy sauce and tomato-based sauces. These are high in pigment, and while typically consumed in smaller amounts, can lead to staining of the teeth if your intake is excessive. 

Acidic Foods and Drinks

Finally, food and drinks that are high in acid can stain your teeth over time. Acidic foods come in many different forms, so you must be vigilant and keep an eye out for the following if stained teeth are of particular concern to you. 

The most obvious culprit here is citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruits. Citrus is known to be high in acid, and excessive consumption can lead to increasing your risk of stained teeth. 

Additionally, vinegar is a highly acidic substance, so food that contains a high amount of this ingredient can lead to stained teeth. High amounts of vinegar are usually found in vinegar-based sauces and dressings, so go easy on the salad dressing if you are trying to maintain a white smile. 

Other less commonly known beverages that are highly acidic are sports and energy drinks. These drinks typically contain acidic ingredients, but you often can’t tell due to the amount of sugar in the beverage. However, they are worth avoiding if you don’t want to stain your teeth. 

Carbonated drinks such as soda are also very high in acid and can stain your teeth if you do not consume them in moderation. 

How These Foods and Drinks Cause Staining 

The list of foods and drinks that can cause staining is quite comprehensive, so you might be wondering how exactly they can stain your teeth. This is due to the various compounds that are found in these foods and drinks, which interact with your teeth and make them more likely to stain.

One of the compounds that stain teeth the most is tannins. These are commonly found in beverages such as red wine and tea. Tannins are plant-based compounds that interact with the surface of your teeth and make it more likely for stains to stick. Consuming drinks high in tannins can lead to a build-up of staining over time, leading to yellow or browning teeth. 

Chromogens are another common culprit in the list of staining food and drinks. Chromogens can be found in high-pigment food such as curry or berries. The high level of pigment in chromogens clings to enamel, which is the outer protective layer of your teeth. Over time, they can build up and lead to discolored and stained teeth. 

Finally, acids, which are found in citrus fruits or vinegar-based dressings and sauces can have a significant impact on your enamel. The acidic nature of this compound can weaken and soften the enamel layer of your teeth, making it easier for stains from other substances to set in. 

Tips to Minimize Staining 

Staining doesn’t have to be a given - there are several steps and techniques you can undertake to reduce staining and discoloration, helping you maintain a pearly white smile. 

Here are some easy tips and tricks you can implement into your everyday routine to minimize staining and achieve your best smile yet. 

Moderation is Key 

Just because certain foods and drinks stain your teeth doesn’t mean you have to give them up forever if you want to avoid staining. However, it is a good idea to think about how often you consume stained food and drink, as it is excessive consumption that can lead to stained teeth. 

The best way around this is to enjoy stain-causing food and drinks in moderation. By limiting the frequency and duration of tooth exposure to these substances, you are less likely to develop stains on your teeth. 

Rinse and Brush 

Another simple yet highly effective way to reduce tooth staining is by simply rinsing your mouth with water after consuming staining food or drink. This removes any residue left on your teeth, which makes it less likely for stains to set in. 

Additionally, you should be brushing your teeth regularly, especially after meals. What you choose to brush with can also help you to reduce staining. 

For example, compounds such as n-Ha gently clean teeth and strengthen enamel, helping to minimize the effect of staining foods. We have an entire range of n-Ha-containing products here at Boka, which you can check out here. 

Use a Straw 

Often, it is excessive exposure of staining foods to your teeth that causes staining. This means that bypassing exposure altogether can minimize the staining effects of your favorite drinks on your teeth.

A great way to do this is by using a straw to drink dark and staining beverages such as cola or coffee. Using a straw minimizes the amount of contact the drink has with your teeth, helping to keep them bright and white. 

Eat "Cleansing" Foods 

While some foods can cause staining, did you know that other types of food can help to reduce or minimize staining? Incorporating crunchy fruit and vegetables in your diet, such as apples, carrots, and celery. The crunchy nature of these foods helps to naturally scrub away stains with little to no effort, revealing a beaming white smile underneath. 

Additionally, food such as cheese and yogurt can work to neutralize acids, preventing them from weakening your enamel and allowing stains to set in. Consuming cheese or yogurt after having a meal that contains staining ingredients is a good way to fight stains and protect your enamel. 

Consider At-Home Teeth Whitening 

If the staining on your teeth is particularly prominent, you might want to consider using an at-home whitening treatment. 

Teeth whitening is a common beauty goal, which means there are many different products on the market. From whitening toothpaste and mouthwashes to whitening strips that you apply directly to your teeth, there are seemingly endless options to whiten your teeth. Using a whitening product periodically is a great way to remove staining and maintain a white smile. 

Typically, these products use peroxide to whiten teeth, which is a bleaching agent. As this is quite a strong chemical, many people can experience pain and sensitivity after using them. If this concerns you, then we highly recommend looking for peroxide-free whitening alternatives that are pain-free but just effective. 

Some of the best peroxide-free alternatives include PAP and n-Ha, which work to gently clean and whiten teeth while strengthening the enamel, making your teeth less likely to incur future staining.

At Boka, we believe that whitening teeth should be a pain-free process, which is why we only use n-Ha and PAP in our whitening products, which are some of our customers’ favorite products. PAP is a powerful whitening tool that targets and eliminates compounds that cause stained teeth, leaving them bright and white. Our whitening kit won the Women’s Health Best Teeth Whitening Kit award recently. You can find our full range of whitening products here. 

Consider Professional Whitening 

If your staining is particularly stubborn and you have exhausted all at-home options, you may want to consider seeking a professional whitening treatment. 

These are administered by your dentist and use powerful chemicals that only professionals are allowed to use. They specifically target stains to whiten your teeth dramatically and leave you feeling confident in your smile.

What Expert Says 

Studies show that coffee, tea, red wine, and dark sauces contain tannins, pigments, and acidity that can discolor teeth.

These substances can stick to enamel and tarnish it over time. Additionally, acidic foods like soda and citrus fruits can erode tooth enamel, making discoloration more likely. 

Dr. Anjum Chadhuray recommends "Rinsing with water after consuming these staining foods, brushing regularly with n-Ha toothpaste, and using a straw when drinking to minimize contact. Professional cleaning and whitening procedures can help reverse or reduce stains. Regular checkups are important for maintaining a great smile."

The Bottom Line

Unfortunately, many common foods and drinks that we consume daily stain our teeth. However, to maintain a white smile, you don’t need to give these up entirely. Instead, consuming them in moderation, and taking other stain-busting measures such as rinsing and using whitening products can help to minimize staining. 

Remember, a healthy, bright smile is always achievable - you just need to put in some work and have an effective oral care routine.

Here at Boka, we can provide a complete oral care solution, from our gentle toothbrushes to our n-Ha-powered toothpaste, whitening kits, and mouthwash. If you want to achieve a bright, white, and healthy smile, consider switching to our products and seeing for yourself how effective they can be.