We've written before about foods to avoid staining your teeth, but what if there was a way to prevent food from staining your teeth?
1. BRUSH YOUR TEETH BEFORE EATING
Brushing your teeth right after eating or drinking acidic food may damage your tooth enamel as your teeth will more sensitive to abrasion. Instead, brush your teeth and hour or so before you eat. Why? Stains cling to plaque in your teeth, so brushing it away before you eat or drink will decrease your chances of staining your teeth.
2. DRINK MORE WATER WHILE YOU EAT
Drinking water between foods that stain and drinks like wine will keep food stains at bay and help prevent acid from building up. Swish it around in your mouth before swallowing. Sparkling water in particular also has the benefit of bubbles which can loosen up or prevent stains.
3. EAT MORE DAIRY
Cheese and yogurt contains casein, a protein found in milk that is particularly useful for fortifying the tooth's surface, which protects it from stains. To get more Vitamin K2 in addition to calcium, choose gouda cheese.
4. EAT MORE FIBER
Foods high in fiber content (like broccoli, brussel sprouts, and potatoes) help your mouth produce more saliva, which helps prevent stains as you chew. Celery is particularly effective because it breaks down into fibrous strands that naturally clean the teeth.
5. EAT MORE FRUIT
Fresh fruit, like veggies, its fibrous in nature and so stimulates saliva production. Pears, in particular, are a good pick as they have a larger acid-neutralizing effect on tooth surface than other types of fresh fruit, including bananas, apples, mandarins and pineapples.
Teeth Already Stained?
If your teeth are already stained, they may need a professional cleaning. After a cleaning, you may also want to get your teeth whitened, which is a service Dr. Reese provides in Indianapolis.