Most of us try to look after our teeth to keep them a nice pearly white, but it is easy to overlook foods that can stain and which often seem very innocuous.

Sports Drinks

Do you grab a sports drink after working out? These drinks can often be high in sugars and acids, weakening tooth enamel and increasing its susceptibility to staining.

Wine

Red wine is well-known for staining teeth, but did you know white wine can be just as bad? White wine is very acidic which will soften your tooth enamel, increasing its porosity and the likelihood of staining.

Berries

The health benefits of berries are well documented but far fewer of us think about their action on teeth. Tasty blueberries, cherries, pomegranates and other soft fruits will all stain your teeth. White coloured fruits such as grapes are less likely to have this effect but they do contain acid which will erode your tooth enamel.

Carbonated Drinks

Fizzy drinks can contain high levels of colourings and dyes and even lighter coloured carbonated drinks can contain flavouring chemicals that will erode and stain teeth.

Taking precautions such as using a straw to drink acidic or highly coloured drinks will help as this minimises contact with your teeth. It also pays not to sip or pick at these foods so your teeth are exposed for a shorter period of time. After eating, rinse your mouth with plain water and wait at least half an hour before cleaning your teeth as this will allow the mouth to become less acidic, enabling your tooth enamel to re-harden slightly.