Most people’s teeth are a natural shade of white – not pure white, but something close. However, sometimes their diets can change the color of their teeth, making them look closer to brown than pearly white.
What’s more, certain foods are worse than others. That’s because they’re higher in compounds called chromogens that give them their color. These pigments not only change the appearance of food but, over time, can actually adhere to your teeth as well.
So what are the most common tooth-staining foods that cause people to seek tooth whitening dental services? Let’s take a look.
Foods That Make Your Teeth Look Brown
1. Beets
Beetroot is one of the healthiest foods on the planet. This brightly-colored root vegetable is packed with phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Unfortunately, it contains a lot of chromogens – something you’ll know all too well if you’ve ever spilled beet juice on the carpet.
If you’re a fan of beets but also worried about your teeth, you can drink beet smoothies through a straw. Using a straw to bypass your teeth keeps them shiny and white.
2. Berries
Berries are another superfood that you should have in your diet every day. As with beets, though, they contain pigmented compounds that can stain the teeth if you eat them regularly.
3. Curry
Curry is another source of tooth discoloration. The primary culprit is the spice turmeric – although many other ingredients in regular curries contain chromogens.
4. Balsamic Vinegar
If you love putting balsamic vinegar on your salads, then you’re doing something healthy. However, like the other foods in this list, the rich color is also a source of staining compounds for your teeth. Balsamic vinegar is one of the worst culprits because not only does it contain deep tannins, but it is also acidic, which means that it softens the tooth enamel, making it easier to stain.
5. Cola
It’s a similar story with Cola. It is highly acidic due to the phosphorus content, and it contains a lot of color compounds that give it its characteristically dark hue.
6. Fruit Juices Make Your Teeth Look Brown
Fruits naturally contain many color compounds. Cranberry, grape, and blueberry juices coat the teeth and leave them looking stained over time.
7. Red Wine
Red wine is another culprit because of the color pigments contained in grapes. While many people love to enjoy the odd glass of wine here and there, doing it every night can darken teeth and make them appear a different color.
8. Coffee
Perhaps the biggest tooth-staining culprit is coffee – the world’s second-most popular drink after water.
Coffee is made of roasted coffee beans. The roasting process brings out their pigment more. When mixed with water and drunk warm, it creates the perfect tooth-staining combination. Not only is it brown, but it is also highly acidic.
9. Soy Sauce can Make Your Teeth Look Brown
Asian cuisine makes heavy use of soy sauce. However, as you might imagine from the color, it also can stain your teeth. Eating it with plenty of vegetables, though, can help counteract some of the effects by making it easier to flush it from your mouth once you finish chewing.
