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For the Home Home How To

3 Easy Ways To Make Your Bed Extra Cozy

Your bed likely isn’t as comfortable as it could be, even if it is comfy enough. Most of us have basic beds with just a mattress cover and sheets. We don’t often think about how the materials make us feel, just as long as we’re warm. But being warm in bed isn’t hard to do, and you can easily keep your body temperature high enough to be content and cozy. However, we need to consider the whole bed, not just what you cover it with but what you could put on it to make it more than just a basic bed. Here are three ways to make your bed extra cozy.

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Make Your Bed Extra Cozy
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How to Make Your Bed Extra Cozy

Why cotton and not wool?

If you want to fall asleep without trouble, you shouldn’t be too warm. Our body temperature needs to drop for the body’s sleep routine to kick in. With this being the case, avoid using wool bedding. Instead, opt for cotton, which will help regulate your body temperature.

Plus, cotton is more versatile and more affordable. Consider the best kind of cotton, such as Merino Cotton and Egyptian cotton. The thread count should be between 800 and 1200 so that it’s soft enough to avoid creasing and becoming rigid when washed. Anything lower than 800 will be too coarse, and above 1200 will be a little too fragile.

Eco-friendly bedding

Everyone agrees that global warming affects the planet, and we need to prevent it from worsening. The way you can help is to change the way you think about what you buy. Instead of choosing synthetic sheets, you should consider cotton, wool, or even bamboo sheets. Bamboo sheets are very soft and still durable, unlike what you see in cotton and wool. This plant-based material is rigid at first, but after it has been threaded and treated, it becomes very flexible and luxurious. 

More on top 

Don’t just consider how you cover your bed or pillows, but also think about what you could put on top of the bed. Can you put a smaller pillow to plug any gaps? Maybe you can put a throw on the bed to give your feet some extra warmth should they pop out from the bottom by accident? Consider using an Oxford pillowcase for supporting pillows as these have extra material, providing you with more comfort.

You can also consider a bolster pillow for your arms, feet, or neck. A bolster pillow can help improve your lumbar spine health if you feel the need to sleep facing up.

Make Your Bed Extra Cozy

These are just a few ways to make your bed more comfortable without busting the wallet or purse strings. Consider investing in wool or cotton at first for your bedding, but bamboo if you want something luxurious and more modern.

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Adulting Decor For the Home Home

6 Easy Ways To Make Your Bathroom Feel Luxurious

The bathroom is a functional space in most homes, but many of us dream of having it be a space with a touch of luxury. Whether you’re inspired by the bathroom in your favorite hotel or you want more luxury in your life, these ideas can help make your bathroom feel luxurious.

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Make Your Bathroom Feel Luxurious
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How to Make Your Bathroom Feel Luxurious

Upgrade The Fixtures And Fittings

Depending on your budget, you can upgrade the fixtures in your bathroom. If you have more to spend, then something like smart toilets by Trone or free-standing tubs instantly add a touch of glamour to the bathroom. 

If you’re on a tighter budget, then you can make more affordable upgrades, like swapping handles on any drawers or cabinets for something that looks more expensive. Consider switching out your old mirror for something new and larger to add some luxury. 

Tile Diagonally

Diagonal tiling, rather than tiling vertically or horizontally, looks more expensive. It makes the bathroom look larger too, which is essential if it’s a cramped room. Diagonal tiles make the bathroom feel more custom and unique. You could also cover a whole wall in tile, from floor to ceiling, to add more sparkle and dimension to an otherwise flat surface. 

Choosing the right materials is essential, but how you use those materials is just as important. Adding tile only to a small area doesn’t show off the materials to its best advantage. Tiling can be expensive, but you could tackle it yourself to save some money.

Use Large Light Fixtures

One good trick to make your bathroom feel fancy is to use a large-scale light fixture, like a flush-mount chandelier. These make a big impact but don’t take up too much of the room’s space. Remember that open space can be the biggest luxury.

Use Plants to Make Your Bathroom Feel Luxurious

Lush plants in attractive planters can help draw the eye where you want it in the bathroom, making the space feel a little larger. The bathroom might not seem like the most obvious place to keep plants, but some plants thrive in a humid environment. Try aloe vera, ferns, or orchids.

Upgrade Your Containers

Buy yourself a bathroom accessory set that has a matching soap dispenser and toothbrush holder. Don’t forget the rest of your toiletries, though. Pour your products, like your shampoo, body wash, and lotion, into beautiful glass containers. Getting rid of your plastic containers and opting for something beautiful will instantly make your bathroom feel more luxe and thought-out. Nobody will know your toiletries are cheap if you keep them in gorgeous containers, either.

Upgrade Your Towels

On a similar line, upgrade your towels. Throw out any that have seen better days and buy some new ones. Look for towels with some luxury details, such as embroidered edges, ribbon trim, and monogramming. Choose plush options too. Turkish towels are a great option, as they dry quickly but have a luxe, lightweight feel. These towels will look better hanging up in your bathroom and will be nicer to use too.

Make Your Bathroom Feel Luxurious 

It can be easy to make your bathroom feel luxurious. If you aren’t doing a full bathroom makeover, implement one of these tips at a time. Do you have any other ways to make your bathroom feel luxurious? Leave a comment and let us know!

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Health Healthy Living How To

4 Guaranteed Ways To Help You Stay On Top Of Your Oral Health

Staying on top of your oral health is as important as maintaining your physical health. It will help to avoid any health complications and achieve optimal health overall. Getting lazy with your oral health routine can quickly cause your teeth to start to deteriorate. These tips are guaranteed ways to help you stay on top of your oral health.

Stay On Top Of Your Oral Health
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How to Stay On Top Of Your Oral Health

Join a local dental practice

It is easier to stay on top of your health checkups if they are close by and convenient. You won’t want to drive or walk for miles if you have other things to do. Using local dental services will ensure that you don’t have to go out of your way to attend routine checkups. 

The appointments will be much more convenient, and you’ll have less of a reason to cancel them. Staying on top of your routine appointments and not delaying them will ensure that you maintain the best oral health and avoid any teeth or gum complications.

Eat the right foods

Surprisingly, many healthy foods can make your teeth look brown. Foods such as berries, beets, and soy sauce can change the color of your teeth. Although this color may disappear when you brush your teeth, it won’t if you lack a regular brushing routine. 

It is best to eat the right foods if you want to avoid your teeth from looking brown. Good foods for optimal oral health include:

  • Apples
  • Cauliflower
  • Pears
  • Cheese 

Should you eat foods that discolor your teeth, make sure to brush them as soon as possible to avoid staining. 

Use a fluoride-rich toothpaste

Although many of us might think that using any toothpaste will strengthen our teeth and make them look white and pearly, they aren’t all as effective as each other.

It is best to use fluoride-rich toothpaste as the ingredients will strengthen enamel and keep teeth in their best condition. Fluoride-rich toothpaste will also help your teeth stay white, which is essential to maintain your smile. 

Floss regularly

Along with brushing your teeth, it is essential to floss too. Some toothbrushes and brushing routines might not be effective enough to remove all plaque and food remains. The floss will loosen it and remove it from your mouth. A build-up of plaque or food can deteriorate the teeth as well as the gums.

Make sure to floss once a day and do it before you brush so that you can loosen anything that needs brushing and washing away. Taking it in your bag with you will also help you dislodge anything that gets stuck, which can deteriorate your teeth throughout the day. Or, you can use it to stay on top of the condition of your teeth and gums. 

Stay On Top Of Your Oral Health

Using these oral health tips can help you optimize and maintain the health of your teeth. Make sure to develop a good routine and check in with your dentist to avoid any oral health issues.

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Adulting Health Healthy Living Mental Health

5 Important Annual Checkups For All Women to Schedule

Annual Checkups for Women

Annual health checkups can be scary for women, but they are essential to take care of your body and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Annual Checkups for Women
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Essential Annual Checkups for Women And Why They’re Necessary

1. Dental Checkup

Dental issues like tooth decay and infections can affect other parts of your body, such as your heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain. These chronic diseases also require medications that could interfere with other medical treatments (ex: antibiotics). Also, when you don’t use dental services, it leaves spaces between visits where bacteria can grow and lead to worse problems down the road.

2. Mammograms

Regular mammograms help detect breast cancer early on in its stages, which reduces mortality rates significantly. Roughly 1 in 8 ladies in the United States will develop breast cancer, but early detection by annual mammograms decreases the risk of death from breast cancer. 

The American Cancer Society recommends that women aged 40 to 44 get a mammogram every two years. Women over the age of 45 should start getting them yearly.

3. Cholesterol Screenings

This test measures your blood cholesterol levels to help detect if you have high amounts of bad cholesterol. High levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol can lead to a higher risk for coronary heart disease or stroke. 

A low-fat diet and regular exercise are key to maintaining good health and reducing your risk for high cholesterol, along with regular screenings.

4. Hearing Test

Hearing loss is caused by many environmental factors such as noise from work, home, or recreational activities. Regular screenings can determine if someone has hearing loss, and working with an audiologist for treatments can be helpful.

5. Gynecological Exams

These exams are necessary to check the health of a woman’s reproductive organ systems. They help detect diseases and infections early on to reduce your chances of infertility. 

The types of gynecological exams women receive are different depending on their age group (ex: annual exam vs. pelvic exam). Still, each test helps detect any problems that may arise affecting female fertility and overall health. 

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that women aged 21-65 go for a well-woman visit every year. Healthy lifestyle choices such as getting regular exercise and enough sleep can also prevent many diseases and decrease risks for abnormal health problems.

Annual Checkups for Women

Annual Checkups are important because they help maintain your routine healthcare needs. Talk to your doctor about what tests they recommend for your age group. Also, try to find a doctor you are comfortable with because your relationship with them will help promote better health.

Tell your doctor about any changes in your body so they can treat you accordingly. Avoiding annual checkups robs you of early detection and it’s dangerous because these disorders can escalate quickly.

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Health Healthy Living Mental Health

4 of the Best Tips To Protect And Improve Your Mental Health

Most of us know that eating well and moving more can benefit our bodies, but you should know that you can also take steps to protect and improve your mental health. It’s not always possible to prevent psychological illnesses, but it’s beneficial to reduce risks. These simple tips can help you nourish your mental well-being. 

Protect And Improve Your Mental Health
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How to Protect And Improve Your Mental Health

Identify Triggers

Conditions and issues that affect our mental health are common. Many of us are prone to bouts of stress and anxiety, and 1 in 5 US adults are diagnosed with a mental health disorder in any given year. Try to identify triggers, which make you feel stressed, anxious, or low, and avoid them where possible. Perhaps checking your phone and reading work emails prevents you from sleeping, or scrolling through social media makes you feel anxious or worthless. 

Cut out actions, repeated behaviors, and activities that have a negative impact and try to be proactive by finding solutions. Speak to your boss about your workload if you feel like you’ve got too much on your plate. Or, set detox periods when you don’t use your phone. Simple strategies can have a dramatic impact on your well-being. 

Be Honest About How You Feel

Many people brush symptoms of mental health disorders under the rug, and we try to deny that anything is wrong. It is natural to experience emotions, reactions, and responses to different situations and scenarios. But, you must distinguish between a bad day or a bout of anxiety caused by a test or an interview and a prolonged period of feeling helpless, on edge, nervous, worried, or low.

If your symptoms have gotten worse, you’ve experienced long periods of feeling anxious or depressed, or you’re struggling to feel calm or switch off, be honest about how you feel and accept that you might need help. Most of us wouldn’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with a doctor for back pain, headaches, or a broken leg, but we’re reluctant to talk about mental health. Reaching out can make a hugely positive difference. There is help and support available.

Seek advice

If you struggle with your mental health, it is beneficial to see your doctor or visit a therapist or counselor. There are treatments and self-help techniques that could help alleviate or control symptoms. Reach out if your symptoms get worse or you find it tough to cope in the aftermath of trauma or difficult life events. Treatment options like rapid resolution therapy are designed to help those dealing with the effects of traumatic events. 

It’s also advisable to understand and recognize the benefits of talking, even if you don’t have a mental health disorder. Everyone can benefit from speaking about how we feel and having a shoulder to cry. It also helps to have a friend or relative to offer advice or reassurance. 

Devote more time and effort to your happiness

Many people rush around, trying to balance work with looking after other people. We don’t always have time to do things or see the people that make us happy. Try to manage your schedule so that you can socialize with friends, colleagues, and family members. Plus, you should make time to indulge your hobbies and enjoy time out to relax and recharge. 

Protect And Improve Your Mental Health

These tips can help you protect and improve your mental health. Do you have any other ideas? Leave a comment and let us know. 🙂

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For the Home Home How To

4 of the Best Tips For The Perfect Yard Makeover

When your home is calling out for some love, it’s easy to focus on interior renovations. However, it’s also essential that you keep your yard in good order. Even in the winter months, having easy access to a nice outdoor space can be a mood booster. Plus, it can make selling your home easier, with recent research suggesting that nice yards are a priority for many buyers. With that in mind, here are some of the best tips for the perfect yard makeover.

Best Tips For The Perfect Yard
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Best Tips For The Perfect Yard

Install New Fencing

While you may want to grab your watering can and try planting flowers, there’s more to your yard than what grows. Transform your yard by switching up your Residential Fencing. Not only does this look great, but it also adds structure to your space and enhances your privacy, meaning that you can keep your home secure and safe. When choosing new fencing, don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles and colors. For example, white fencing can make a small backyard appear much larger than it is. 

Know Your Limits in the Garden

Gardening is a skill that doesn’t always come naturally, meaning that you’ll need to work on your abilities over time. When looking to transform your garden, start by focusing on plants that are easy to grow for first-time gardeners. You can develop the skills you need without overstretching your abilities or tending to a garden full of dead plants. Do plenty of research to choose plants that are well suited to your home environment (weather, temperature, etc.). 

Create the Illusion of Space

If your yard is small, don’t worry – there are plenty of ways to make the most of the space. For example, you can create the illusion of having more space by introducing different levels to your yard. Consider installing raised wooden decking or hanging plants across the walls and fences.

Put Together a Gardening Routine

Unfortunately, you cannot simply spend one day taking care of your yard and then leave it to fend for itself. Much like having a cleaning routine for your home, you should also have a routine for yard work. Some plants will require daily watering or maintenance. Other duties, such as mowing the lawn, can occur weekly. Remember, you don’t have to do all of this yourself – as gardening is a great way to teach your kids responsibility. Plus, if everybody wants to spend time in the yard, they should help take care of it.  

Best Tips For The Perfect Yard Makeover

Do you have any tips for the perfect yard? Leave a comment and let us know. 🙂

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Gifts Holiday

5 Ways to Find The Perfect Gifts This Christmas

Find The Perfect Gifts

Christmas is getting closer and closer, so now is the time to start thinking about planning your gifts. It can sometimes be a challenge to find the perfect gifts, but it doesn’t have to be this way. These tips will help you find the perfect gifts for everyone on your list.

Find The Perfect Gifts
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How to Find The Perfect Gifts

Organize The Present As An Event

Be creative with your packaging! Think of the gifting experience as an event rather than just handing them a gift packaged in ordinary wrapping paper. One idea is to put together a scavenger hunt and hide the gift. Another idea is to put the present inside a giant stuffed shark that the receiver must undergo surgery to remove. 

Whatever fun event you choose for your gift-giving, remember how much fun it is to unwrap presents. Quantity isn’t always the best measure of quality, especially if there are a lot of small, individually wrapped items.

Give An Experience

If someone in your life loves the book Les Miserables but already has the book, movie, and movie poster, consider an experience instead. Maybe you can buy the person theatre tickets to see a performance and go on a theatre trip. If they love driving, book a driving experience. Or perhaps they love food and would enjoy a cooking class or a meal out. Gifting an experience is like gifting memories. 

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Make A List Of All Their Likes And Interests to Find the Perfect Gifts

Make this list as long as you can, spending at least two minutes writing down everything you can think of. Now, think of something to go with each item on your list, no matter how small or large. You don’t have to give all of those presents, but you’ll come up with some unique ideas that you wouldn’t have thought of otherwise, and when you combine a few of them, your recipient will appreciate how personalized and thoughtful you were. Do they love jewelry? Think about opals Australia. 

Look At The Past 

If the gift-receiver has any favorite memories they would like to share, give a gift related to the memory. If you think you can recreate it, be creative and give it a shot. You can also consider printing out a canvas picture of it for them to hang on their wall.

What Do They Need? 

Everyone needs something, even if they don’t know it. Sometimes, it’s important to think broader. Is there anything a busy, successful business person needs? Most likely time. Consider buying them something that makes them more efficient so they can finish sooner.

If you are unsure what to get, ask your friends or others you know. If your sister goes to nursing school, make a nurse survival kit. By looking at that person on a more general level, you’ll be able to step outside your normal perspective, giving you creative ideas.

Find The Perfect Gifts This Christmas

This guide should help you find the perfect gift every time. Do you have any other tips that could help you get the right gift this Christmas? Leave a comment and share your tips! 🙂 

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Family Activities How To Parenting

2 Ways to Support Your Little Ones As They Grow Up

As soon as you learn that you’re bringing a child into the world, your attitude and priorities change. Rather than focusing your whole world around yourself, you begin to center it around someone else. You want the best for your child, and you’ll do whatever you can to achieve this. Of course, knowing what’s best for your child and what you should do to provide them with the best upbringing can be difficult. Nobody receives a book or guide on how to do this, and often, most people find that it’s a matter of trial and error and finding their own way to do things as best as they can. Of course, there are a few key things you can consider and work on to support your little ones and provide them with the best upbringing possible. 

Supporting Your Little Ones, Support Your Little Ones
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How to Support Your Little Ones As They Grow Up

Prioritize Their Health and Wellbeing

Children can’t take care of themselves. They don’t have the emotional or mental capacity to create a healthy and positive environment for themselves to grow up in. Instead, this is your responsibility. Taking care of your child’s health and wellbeing ensures that they are physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy. 

If your child experiences a major injury, you’re going to take them into urgent care. But it’s also essential to focus on small and less severe situations and conditions. If you notice that your child has an ongoing issue, such as skin complaints, wheeziness, or anything else, take them in to visit a general practitioner who can diagnose any issues and recommend a course of treatment. Make sure to take them for regular checkups with healthcare professionals like doctors, dentists, optometrists, and audiologists. Tackle any problems about mental health following medical advice and with the support of charities and support groups. Doing these things can all benefit your children greatly.

Provide Them With a Good Education

Education can be one of the most influential factors in a child’s life, direction, and future. Good quality education can open up all sorts of doors and opportunities that provide your child with potential and a better quality of life down the line once they become dependent on themselves. Of course, the unfortunate truth is that all schools aren’t equal, which means you have to look into the best schools in your area and do your utmost to get your children into them. 

Remember that education doesn’t begin and end in the classroom. There are all sorts of educational activities you can carry out with your children at home out of school hours. Nature walks, visiting museums and art galleries, and encouraging creativity through arts and crafts are just a few examples.

Support Your Little Ones As They Grow Up

These are just a couple of areas of focus, but they’re important ones. Hopefully, they’ll be able to kickstart your journey towards providing your little ones with the best upbringing possible.

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For the Home Home

4 Easy Ways To Keep Your Home Dry All Year Round

Keep Your Home Dry

No matter what kind of home you live in, it is essential to keep it dry all the time. While this is easier said than done, it is necessary and for many good reasons. Allowing the home to become damp can lead to property and foundation damage. It can also lead to mold, which is a severe health hazard. Avoiding these issues is important, so you must ensure that you keep your home dry all year round. Here are some tips.

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How To Keep Your Home Dry

Extractor Fans

One of the first things to look into is whether or not your home has an extractor fan. You will need one of these in the kitchen at the very least. When you cook, you create a lot of steam and, if you don’t allow this steam to exit the home, you end up with a damp environment. Extractor fans are even a legal necessity in many parts of the world. If you don’t have one already, get one installed soon. It will make a world of difference.

Vapor Barriers

You might not have heard of vapor barriers, but they are useful, powerful things you should consider having in your home if you have a basement or crawl space. The crawl space can be a handy place to store items, but it is also prone to dampness and mold. The solution is simple: a vapor barrier installation that stops moisture from collecting under the house and allows you to use it to keep the whole space dry. If you don’t have one of these already, take a look today.

Dehumidifiers

A dehumidifier is a really handy and quite simple tool. It does exactly what the name suggests, which is that it removes humidity (water) from the air. You might not even be aware of how humid your air is in the home until you go to remove it with one of these. Modern dehumidifiers come with a digital smart display to tell you what percentage humidity the air is, and they are very effective at removing it as and when it might be necessary. Dehumidifiers are affordable, and highly effective, so definitely worth looking into if you are keen to keep your home dry.

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Fans

If you have a basement, you can keep it dry without a dehumidifier. The simple, old-school solution is to have a fan installed. Ceiling fans keep air moving around, and they will also have the bonus of keeping you cool in summer and warm in winter. Modern fans are highly effective and more affordable than you might think, so it’s worth considering.

Keep Your Home Dry All Year Round

As you can see, there are some great ways to keep your home dry all year round. It’ll protect your home and health, making it an essential issue to consider. Do you have any other tips for keeping your home dry? Leave a comment and let us know.

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Health Healthy Living

9 Surprising Foods That Can Make Your Teeth Look Brown

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

Foods That Make Your Teeth Look Brown, Teeth Look Brown
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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

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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

Teeth Look Brown
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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.