Top 5 Foods That Stain Your Teeth from Your Dentist Homer Glen

You brush and floss every day. You even brush between meals, and use antimicrobial mouth rinse. Still, your teeth look more and more yellow every year. The cause may be natural discoloring that occurs with age, but it could also be caused by dietary choices. Put down your cup of coffee, and keep reading to find out how teeth become stained and what foods may be causing your dental discoloration. Then, find out more about our professional teeth whitening treatments to reverse years of stains in as little as one hour.

Why Teeth Stain

There are two main types of staining: extrinsic and intrinsic. Intrinsic staining is more difficult to prevent and treat and can be caused by any number of things from genetic predisposition, to using tetracycline medications before the age of 8, and aging. Intrinsic staining occurs when the dentin layer (below the enamel) is darkened or enamel is worn away revealing more of the yellowed dentin color. Foods and drinks, smoking, and other habits cause extrinsic staining. The reason this happens is the pigment-producing bacteria, chromogen. Chromogens attach to tooth enamel discoloring the pearly white smile. This is worsened when highly acidic foods are also high in chromogens. The acid breaks down the enamel creating creases where the chromogens collect. Repeated exposure to acidic foods and drinks or high sugar foods that are broken down into acids in the mouth, cause enamel erosion which reveals the yellow-colored dentin below.

The Top Stain Causing Culprits

Any foods and beverages consumed in moderation are not as likely to affect your oral health including staining, but it can’t hurt to avoid high sugar treats and that are both acidic and full chromogens regularly. Giving up these 5 foods and beverages (or cutting back) helps prevent dental staining:

1. Coffee and tea
2. Wine and fruit juices
3. Sauces
4. Berries
5. Candy

Find Out More

Interested in finding out more about stain causing foods or how to whiten your smile? Contact Dr. Alan R. De Angelo, the dentist Homer Glen residents rely on. We offer both in-office and at-home teeth whitening treatments to help patients with any level of staining. Our Zoom! in-office whitening treatment brightens teeth up to ten shades in a single visit, and our professional-grade at-home whitening kit allows patients to transform their smiles from the comfort of home.