White tea, yerba mate, and rooibos are great coffee alternatives that won't stain your teeth. White tea comes from the same plant as green tea, but is minimally processed to preserve its health benefits. As an added bonus, research shows that white tea may also prevent cavities and gum disease!
The dark pigment of coffee can also stain teeth after extended exposure to a tooth with weakened enamel. However, because soda has a dark pigment that can stain teeth, coffee is the better choice of beverage, between the two, for overall dental health.
1) Alcoholic Drinks
However, high alcohol consumption will undoubtedly lead to dental problems. It is important to know that most alcoholic beverages are high in sugar that has numerous negative effects on your dental health. Alcoholic drinks destroy tooth enamel and cause heavy stains.
But it's not the worst culprit. That would be tea, which nearly half your fellow Americans drink every day. Not only is it full of acid, it also has tannins. "Tea causes teeth to stain much worse than coffee," says Mark S.
Food & Drink: Coffee, tea, dark sodas, red wine, and even a few fruits and vegetables are proven causes of discolored teeth. Tobacco: Both cigarettes and chewing tobacco can contribute to discolored teeth. Oral Care: Poor dental hygiene, such as inadequate brushing or flossing, can lead to tooth discoloration.
Sugar sweetened beverages have high levels of sugar and drinking these can significantly contribute to tooth decay. Regular and 'diet' soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, fruit juices, fruit drinks and cordials also have high acid levels that can cause tooth erosion.
Next to water, milk is the healthiest drink for your teeth. It protects tooth enamel, contains vitamins and calcium and can actually reduce tooth decay.
The mealtime beverage also helps to wash away food particles on teeth. The best beverage choices include water (especially fluoridated water) and unsweetened tea. Limit your consumption of sugar-containing drinks, including soft drinks, lemonade, and coffee or tea with added sugar.
Floss between your teeth daily. Limit food and drinks that stain teeth, such as cola, coffee, tea and red wine. Keep a clean reusable straw handy to sip liquids and prevent staining your front teeth.
Brush and floss your teeth immediately afterward.
Brushing and flossing immediately is the easiest way to prevent coffee stains from settling into these nooks and crannies. This also removes the bacteria from plaque that causes discoloration and decay. So, if you can, do a quick brush after every cup.
Takeaway. Strawberries, watermelon, and dairy products may help whiten your teeth. These foods contain compounds with lightening properties. Pineapple and papaya also have proteolytic enzymes that dissolve stain-causing proteins on your teeth.
Banana peels don't do anything to whiten your teeth. Many articles recommend rubbing the peel against your teeth for a few minutes. While this could scrub off some surface stains, it's no more effective than brushing your teeth. Banana peels have no special whitening properties.
Dairy products, such as cheese, yogurt and milk, contain lactic acid and the enamel-fortifying mineral calcium, which strengthen teeth while also whitening them.
Opt for Decaf or Cold Brew
If possible, drink decaf coffee. Since it contains less caffeine, it's less likely to stain your teeth. If you're not a fan of decaf but would like to prevent stains, you can brew your coffee cold. While cold brewing may take longer, it can effectively prevent coffee stains.
Diet sodas and tooth erosion
Similarly to regular soda, drinking diet sodas like Coke Zero is associated with an increased risk of tooth erosion. One of the main ingredients in Coke Zero is phosphoric acid. One study on human teeth noted that phosphoric acid causes mild enamel and tooth erosion ( 13 ).
Water. Water is one of the drinks that whiten teeth. It not only keeps you hydrated, but it also helps prevent the formation of stains on your teeth. Swish some water in your mouth after you eat or drink pigment-rich foods or fluids to maintain a brighter, whiter smile.
Green or White Tea
Green and white teas are the best types of tea for your teeth. Green, white, and black tea all have a lot of antioxidants, which help fight cavity-causing bacteria and reduce inflammation in your gums, but black tea will stain your teeth yellow over time.
It's a myth that you can safely whiten teeth with lemon juice and baking soda. Unlike toothpaste, baking soda is abrasive and will wear away your tooth enamel over time. Likewise, lemon juice is too acidic to sit on the surface of your teeth.
Your cosmetic dentist can provide treatment that penetrates deep into the enamel and removes years of stains with a powerful bleaching agent. In fact, these solutions have been known to brighten teeth by as many as ten shades!