Ayesha Aziz

We all know how unsightly stained teeth can be. You might remember the last time you got some food stuck between your pearly whites. Even that can be embarrassing. Imagine not being able to smile freely just because of pesky little yellow teeth. Our smile plays an important role in creating first impressions. They help us exude confidence and even become successful in our lives. This is why oral hygiene is so important. 

There are a few things that might be causing your teeth to stain. It can happen because of ageing. The wear and tear that teeth go through make them more susceptible to staining over time. Some foods contain chromogens in them, colouring compounds. Other than that, tannins present in coffees and teas are infamous for their role in staining teeth. If you want to know the foods that can possibly leave their colourful marks, all you need to do is spill them on your clothes. Their getting dirty means so do your teeth. 

There are definitely a few foods that you should avoid. However, if you are addicted to them, as some are to coffees and teas, there are a few tricks that you can use. 

Coffee, Cola and Tea

I know many people love them. Some get headaches and others can’t digest their food without these. But one thing these drinks have in common is their acidity. This can cause erosion of your enamel. Your teeth will then get stained even more, easily and the dyes present in cokes don’t help. Also, 12 ounces of cola contains about 10 teaspoons of sugar. This means cavities! 

Now for cokes, you can simply use straws so that the drink doesn’t wash your teeth on its way to your gullet. But this seems a bit odd with the hot-drinks. For them, you can just add in a bit more milk. You’ll lighten their colours and dampen their chances of leaving permanent stains on your teeth. 

Our Beloved Pakoda (or Chicken) Kadhi 

It’s a staple of Pakistani cuisine. In some houses, it’s almost a tradition to fry Pakodas to enjoy on rainy days. So, salivating mouths is a given when one sees this dish. A very distinguishing feature about this gravy is its colour, though. It’s a bright yellow. The secret lies in its ingredients: gram flour and turmeric powder. If you eat this dish a lot, then you can expect yellow teeth. 

To avoid the “pleasant” after-effects of your sumptuous meal, just brush your teeth after around 30 mins. However, it’s better if you just gargle with plain water. 

Pour little of that Soy Sauce 

For many of us, warm Chinese food and winter go hand in hand. Whenever a soup is served so are vinegar, red chilli, and soya sauce with it (not counting the salt shakers). Now some like to turn their soup’s colour black by adding spoonfuls of soy sauce for the umptuous umami flavour. Whether it’s Chow Mein or even egg-fried rice, everything needs a dash of soy sauce. But you should be careful about not overdoing it. Its dark colour may be the culprit behind your brownish teeth.