You might know that coffee, wine and cigarettes can cause yellowed teeth, but did you know about some of the sneakier staining culprits?
To keep your smile white, look out for these five foods.
1. Curry
Curry has a way of colouring everything it comes into contact with – including teeth. The deep pigmentation means it has a high staining factor. To counteract this, eat lots of crunchy fresh vegetables at the same time as your curry. Carrots, cauliflower and celery are all good weapons against stains.
2. Your favourite condiments
Shock horror – popular condiments such as soy sauce and the classic Kiwi tomato sauce can be responsible for tooth staining. As a general rule, if a sauce can stain your t-shirt, it will probably stain your teeth as well.
You can still enjoy your sushi and fish and chips with their appropriate accompaniments, just be sparing with the amount of sauce you're splashing on your food.
3. Balsamic vinegar
As well as a tangy flavour, balsamic vinegar has a dark hue which carries the risk of staining. The acid can also wear down the enamel on your teeth, making them more vulnerable to stains setting in as it becomes softer and rougher.
In short, if you don't rinse balsamic vinegar away soon after eating it can stick to your teeth and lead to discolouration. One way to avoid staining is to make sure you include greens in salads – crunchy lettuce helps clean the vinegar away from your teeth as you eat.
4. Berries
Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and cranberries are some of nature's most delicious snacks, but they leave more than just your fingers purple. It doesn't matter whether you eat the whole berries, drink the juice, or put berry jam on your toast, their deep hue can still cause staining, Colgate says. Try drinking a glass of water after eating, or brushing your teeth around 30 minutes later.
5. Pasta sauce
The bright red colour and acidity of the tomatoes in pasta sauce can cause some staining on your teeth. Eating a green salad with some kale or spinach as an appetizer is the best way to protect your smile, as this will cover your teeth with a protective film and ward off stains.
Even if you do indulge in all of your favourite berries, sauces and curries, you can still easily reverse any tooth staining through a professional tooth whitening treatment. The safe and simple procedure will leave you with a gleaming smile that anyone in Hollywood would be jealous of – get in touch with us to find out more!