White teeth. They are on everybody’s wish list. But when you look in the mirror, you see dingy, yellowish toned teeth. You brush and floss diligently and visit your dentist every 6 months for a complete cleaning. What more can you do?

The chances are that your yellowing teeth are due, in part, to your dietary habits. Take a look at what you’re eating (and drinking) to help you have those pearly white teeth that you long for.

5 Foods to Avoid if You Want White Teeth

Berries

While berries are rich in nutrition, they are havoc on your teeth. They leave dark stains that are difficult to remove. Eat them but brush your teeth right after you consume them. Berries are healthy for your body, bad for your teeth!

Coffee and Tea

Drink coffee or tea for your morning jolt of caffeine each day? These culprits cause staining on your teeth. The acidity of each of these morning beverages attaches to the tooth enamel and wears it down. As a result, the thinning enamel appears gray or yellow.

A cup of coffee with white teeth sitting on top of coffee beans. — Brush right away after drinking your morning java to avoid yellow teeth.

Tomato-based Sauces and Condiments

It seems that tomatoes make the tangiest, most palate-pleasing sauces and condiments. Barbecue sauce. Ketchup. Red sauce. Cocktail sauce. The list goes on and on.

However, the acidity of tomato products causes a two-fold problem. First, tomato products stain your tooth enamel. Second, the acid causes enamel erosion.

A white plate with pasta and sauce on it. — Tomato products have high acidity that damages tooth enamel.

Sugary Beverages

Switch up your sugary beverages with water to avoid tooth stains. These include:

soda
sports drinks
energy drinks
fruit juices (fruit has natural sugars)
drinks from powdered packets

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The sugar from these drinks attaches to the tooth enamel and forms a sticky substance called plaque. Then, the plaque begins to erode and thin out the enamel.

Orange juice - stock videos & royalty-free footage showcasing white teeth. — Because of the natural sugars, even healthy juices erode your tooth enamel.

Wine

There’s nothing quite as nice as a glass of wine at the end of a long day. But wine is not kind to your teeth. While red wine causes visible staining, white wines also damage your enamel due to the acidity and sugars.

Wrap-up

You don’t need to cut your favorite foods out of your diet altogether to have white teeth. Knowing that these foods cause staining, you can take extra care to brush immediately after consumption. You can also try in-home whitening strips. Finally, remain diligent about your flossing and attending dental check-ups.