Can a healthy diet damage the appearance of your teeth? Whitening Wisdom: Part One
November 15, 2017
Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dental treatments in Australia, and over the last few years teeth whitening has become a huge industry with a range of new products and technologies becoming available.
This article is Part One of our Whitening Wisdom series, which will examine teeth whitening as an industry, go through the science and inform you on the best ways to go about getting a healthy, attractive, white smile.
In Part One we will go through how and why tooth staining happens, understanding the importance of diet and how you can manage tooth stains from dietary sources.
It is important to understand that a very healthy diet - rich in coloured fruits and vegetables can stain teeth in a similar fashion to smoking and regularly consuming coffee, tea and wine.
To learn more about teeth stains, diet and getting a healthy, white smile - keep reading.
How & Why Teeth Get Stained
First things first, we will be addressing the cause of tooth staining - which ironically can actually be increased by a diet rich in certain healthy foods.
There are two kinds of stains to teeth - Intrinsic stains and Extrinsic stains.
Extrinsic Stains
Extrinsic stains are predominantly caused by the types of foods and drink we eat. These are the more superficial stains on the outer layer of the tooth. These occur as a result of of two things, the accumulation of chromophores on the tooth, and the reaction between sugars and amino acids.
Usually, these stains are localised to the surface of the enamel and because of this, extrinsic stains can often be removed by brushing and maintaining a regular oral health routine. If not managed well, extrinsic stains will become darker and more persistent over time.
Intrinsic Stains
Intrinsic stains are stains that affect the inner layer of the tooth - the dentin. They are caused by deeper internal stains, or defects on the enamel.
They are caused by aging, ingestion of chromogenic food and drinks, tobacco usage, enamel microcracks, tetracycline medication, excessive fluoride ingestion, severe jaundice in infancy, porphyria, dental caries, restorations, and the thinning of the enamel layer. Aging often results in darker teeth. This is due to the formation of a secondary layer of dentin inside the tooth which is darker than the previous layer. Another, deeper stain can be caused by drug ingestion. This can occur with the antibiotic, Tetracycline which when ingested during childhood, is incorporated into the dentin of the adult tooth while it is forming, causing discolouration.
Intrinsic stains cannot be removed by brushing as the stain is deeper within the tooth. Intrinsic stains can be removed, or at least improved by certain chemical reactions that can penetrate the enamel and break down the staining compounds.
What is a chromophore & how does this relate to having white teeth?
A chromophore is the part of a chemical compound that is responsible for its colour. An auxochrome is a group of these compounds that generally increase the richness of the colour to the human eye.
Richly coloured foods are considered to be highly chromogenic. Teeth become stained when these chromophoric compounds penetrate into the microscopic pores, notches and grooves of the enamel.
Once the chromophores enter into the structure of the enamel they become very difficult to remove with normal brushing. Most cheaper and non-professional whitening products such as generic whitening toothpastes, over the counter options and those commonly found online will also be ineffective at removing the stains once this happens.
What does my diet have to do with it?
Simply put, a healthy diet consists of a lot of fruit and vegetables - especially those that are richly coloured. Most scientists agree that plants have evolved with rich colours for a range of purposes including sun protection, antifungal properties and to encourage animals to propagate their seeds. 1
For humans, many of these phytochemicals that give the plant its colour have powerful antioxidant health benefits. Pigments like anthocyanins found in foods like blueberries, cherries and pomegranate are a powerful antioxidant and may possess anti-inflammatory properties, and also help with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, arthritis and cancer. 2
At Laser + Holistic Dental, we strongly encourage people to consume a wide range of coloured fruits and vegetables - however not many people make the connection between their healthy diet and the cosmetic stains on their teeth.
If you want to have the whitest smile possible, learn which foods play a significant role in tooth stains and tweak your consumption habits to minimise any cosmetic staining.
Which Foods & Drinks Are Chromogenic?
If you regularly consume any of these foods they are likely to be contributing to yellowing and staining of your teeth.
Coffee
Coffee’s brown colour is largely made up of chemical pigments called melanoidins which contribute to browning and yellowing of the teeth. Black coffee is more likely to stain than coffee diluted with milk.
To minimise coffee stains, consume coffee in one sitting instead of regularly sipping and rinse out with water after drinking.
Tea
The colour of black tea is from the tannins found in the tea leaves. The tannins actually are more likely to stain teeth than coffee - so consider lighter coloured teas like green, white or herbal teas with reduced tannin content.
Rinse with water after drinking your tea.
Red Wine
The colour in red wine comes from plant pigments like tannins and anthocyanidins. Both of these compounds can stain the teeth.
White wine and clear spirits will not stain like red wine does - perhaps consider those options instead or rinse with water after drinking the wine.
Turmeric
Turmeric’s yellow colour comes from curcumin - a natural phenol compound that has anti-inflammatory properties.
Turmeric can very easily stain clothes, and definitely stain your teeth!
Recently it has been claimed that turmeric is effective at whitening teeth - any whitening effect would be the result of abrasion. The curcumin compound is more likely to stain and discolour teeth than to whiten them.
Curries
Curries are generally high in spices such as turmeric, saffron and paprika - all of which are highly chromophoric substances. The compounds capsanthin and capsorubin give paprika the signature red/orange colour.
Turmeric’s yellow colour comes from curcumin - a natural phenol compound.
Curries can easily stain orthodontic bands, as well as the tooth surface.
Soy Sauce
Soy sauce contains similar melanoidins compounds to coffee - creating a rich brown colour.
These melanoidins have been linked to increased tooth discolouration in Asian populations where the consumption of soy sauce is generally high.
Other condiments like balsamic vinegar have a similar effect.
Blueberries
Blueberries are one of the richest sources of antioxidant phytonutrients. Blueberries are extremely high in anthocyanins - giving the rich blue colour to the skin of the fruit.
Organic blueberries are a favourite of ours - just be aware that the skin pigments can play a role in tooth stains.
Berries
Berries like raspberries and blackberries are high in phytochemicals like anthocyanin pigments, and phenols like gallic acid. Generally speaking, the darker the berry - the higher the phytochemical content.
When drinking things like a berry smoothie, it may be worth using a straw to minimise contact between the chromophoric chemicals and the tooth enamel surface.
Beetroot
Betalains are a class of red and yellow pigments that give beetroot the rich colour we commonly associate with it.
These betalain pigments, display potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and chemo-preventive activity.
Beetroot juice easily leaves stains on clothes, skin and your teeth!
Pomegranate
Pomegranate is another fruit rich in antioxidants and is also a good source of minerals like potassium iron, zinc and magnesium. The deep red juice - packed with anthocyanins and polyphenols is very healthy, but can easily stain your teeth.
Make sure to rinse after eating any pomegranate products.
Fruit Juices
Fruit juices can be rich in chromophores - depending on the types of fruits used. If it is a rich, dark colour you can be sure that the juice can contribute to cosmetic stains on the tooth’s surface.
Consider using a straw, or rinse after consumption.
Cherries
Cherries are rich in anthocyanins - the darker the fruit, the higher the chromophore compound. Cherries are a good source of antioxidants - however the rich colour of the skin and flesh means that they can easily contribute to stained teeth.
If you have been enjoying cherries - making sure to rinse afterwards.
How to deal with teeth stains from food:
If you are concerned about the impact that these foods may be having on the appearance of your teeth - there are a few options to consider.
Tweak consumption habits:
Identify which foods are likely to be contributing the most staining, and change your consumption habits. This doesn’t mean you should cut out your coffee, tea or berry smoothie - instead consume in one sitting instead of sipping constantly, reduce the frequency where possible and try using a straw to minimise contact with the tooth surfaces.
Rinse and/or brush after eating or drinking:
Rinsing or drinking some water after eating is always a good idea to help neutralise the pH of the mouth, wash away any extra food and help to remove any staining compounds.
You may like to consider brushing immediately after eating or drinking to reduce staining. Manual brushing will help to remove any residue stuck to the outer surface of the enamel - however this is not recommended after drinking anything acidic as it can damage the enamel surface. Carbonated drinks, citrus juices, coffee and and tea are all acidic so keep this in mind.
Use a mineralising paste to reduce stains:
At Laser + Holistic Dental we use mineralising pastes to protect the tooth surface for a range of different treatments including teeth whitening. These mineralising pastes reduce the porousity of the tooth surface - filling in the gaps and grooves in the enamel that chromophores often will get stuck to.
If you integrate these mineralising pastes into your everyday oral hygiene routine, there may be a proactive benefit at reducing teeth staining compounds from binding to your teeth. A stronger, mineralised enamel surface can prevent stains from penetrating into your teeth and discolouring them over time.
At your next appointment - ask us if regular use of mineralising pastes will be beneficial for you.
Whitening Wisdom: Part Two
The next article of the Whitening Wisdom series - Spoilt For Choice - What Teeth Whitening Works & What Doesn’t, dives into at home teeth whitening methods from natural home remedies, over the counter products and professional whitening treatments. We compare the way these whitening methods actually work, assess the evidence and determine which ones are worth the effort and which ones may be actually harmful to tooth health.
Part Two Is Now Available here.The Whitening Wisdom Series
If you would like to read part two and three, please use the links below.
Spoilt For Choice - What Teeth Whitening Works & What Doesn’t. Whitening Wisdom: Part Two
Fact vs Fiction on Professional Teeth Whitening – Whitening Wisdom: Part Three
Laser + Holistic Dental is a holistic dentist in Melbourne, Australia.
Located in South Yarra, Laser + Holistic Dental offers a new approach to teeth whitening using a combination of special lasers, high quality whitening gels and calcium mineral pastes.
For a whiter, healthier smile without any of the common sensitivity issues - get in touch to find out more.