A new study has revealed the worst food and drink products that impact your dental health and could be changing the colour of your teeth permanently – and some of the worst offenders are common
Some of the UK’s most cherished beverages could be wreaking havoc on your dental health, staining your teeth and eroding your oral health simultaneously. A recent study by Sanitas has spotlighted the worst culprits in food and drink that can impact your dental health and potentially permanently alter the colour of your teeth.
It’s no secret that sugary drinks and processed products can harm your teeth and oral health. This study reaffirms that these are the main offenders when it comes to eroding tooth enamel – a leading cause of dentist visits.
Having less tooth enamel can lead to a host of problems such as tooth fractures, but our diet can also more easily change the appearance of our teeth with a weakened barrier between our teeth and what we eat. Dental experts have issued a warning that regularly consuming five specific drinks can contribute to this erosion and simultaneously alter the colour of your teeth, potentially leading to more serious dental issues.
Starting with a global household favourite, the experts confirmed that coffee could be the culprit behind your teeth losing their whiteness. They also advised against red wine and dark soft drinks for the same reason, according to Infobae. All of these products contain chromogens, which give these drinks their colour and have a tendency to stick to tooth enamel. Over time, layers of chromogens will colour the surface of your teeth, changing their hue.
Fizzy drinks, juices and other sweet beverages have been flagged as ones to steer clear of due to their high sugar content. This sugar can feed harmful bacteria in the mouth, leading to erosion of tooth enamel and making teeth more prone to staining.
Citrus juices like orange and lemon were singled out for their acidity, which not only wears away enamel but also makes it more porous and likely to stain. This could even expose the naturally yellow dentine layer beneath your enamel.
