7 Ways You Didn’t Realize You Were Staining Your Teeth

The secret to a stain-free smile:-Anyone whos gotten their teeth professionally whitened—or at the very least used drugstore-bought whitening strips—knows a thing or two about what to stay away from to keep those pearly whites nice and bright. No coffee, smoking, red wine—oh, and tons of flossing.

You load up your plate with seedy fruits:-Natures natural sweets—especially dark ones like blueberries, blackberries, and pomegranates—might taste delicious and be good for you, but they can wreak havoc on the brightness of your tooth enamel. These dark berries are made up of a compound called chromogens, which produce a pigment that is difficult to rub off.

But you skip strawberries:-Strawberries are not only one of the good seedy fruits, but they naturally fights stains on teeth. Strawberries contain a malic acid, which can safely dissolve surface stains on teeth.

You take certain antibiotics or medication:-You might not think your Rx or OTC drug could affect your choppers—especially since you are not even chewing most of them—but the antibiotics tetracycline, minocycline, and doxycycline, most commonly prescribed to treat an array of issues from skin conditions to bacterial infections, are known to discolor teeth.

You rinse with the wrong mouthwash:-Mouth rinses and washes that contain chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride are also common teeth-staining culprits, so check your labels or ask your dentist for his or her best recommendation.

You cook with certain spices (like curry):-The deep pigmentation from the curry spice itself can continuously yellow teeth over time, so you will want to limit it from your diet to cut back on staining.

Balsamic is your go-to vinegar:-Any liquid thats naturally dark, especially strong or acidic ones like balsamic vinegar, can lead to staining if the teeth are not properly brushed afterwards.

You drink dark-colored liquids:-Anything you wouldnt want to scrub off your white blouse, you shouldnt want to scrub off your teeth such as coffee, soda, tea and red wine. If these beverages are daily indulgences for you, drink lots of water to wash away those stains or chew crunchy vegetables to promote salivary flow, which also help to remove stains.