What causes tooth staining?

Some foods and drinks contain chromogens, chemical compounds that have an intense colour pigment. They can be found in tea, coffee, red wine, dark berries, tomatoes and bright coloured spices like turmeric.

The action of chromogens is enhanced by tannins in tea, coffee and wine, and by acids found in fruits and fizzy drinks. Tannins help chromogens stick to the surface of your teeth, while acids soften the enamel, making it easier for chromogens to settle onto the tooth’s surface.

Which foods stain your teeth the most?

Worried about your favourite meal staining your teeth? Here are the top 10 foods most likely to cause dental stains.

How can you prevent food from staining your teeth?

The best ways to prevent food and drink from staining your teeth are to:

• Eat stain-causing foods and drinks in moderation.

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day, 30 minutes after eating.

• Drink plenty of plain water, especially between glasses of wine or cola, and rinse your mouth after eating.

• Finish a meal with crunchy vegetables or a small piece of cheese to help cleanse teeth and neutralise any acids that can damage enamel.

• Drink cola and fruit juices through a straw.

• Chew sugar-free gum after meals to stimulate saliva that naturally cleans your teeth.

• Limit your intake of sugary, processed foods that damage dental enamel and affect your oral microbiome.

• See your dentist and hygienist for regular dental checks.

If you are concerned about teeth staining, speak to your dentist or hygienist about cleaning and whitening treatments that can reduce the appearance of stains.

Is there a way to get stains off your teeth?

The best way to get stains off your teeth is to brush at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and speak to your dentist about professional tooth cleaning and whitening options. Although teeth whitening doesn’t remove stains, it can lighten the colour of your teeth, which may reduce the appearance of stains.

Can hygienists remove stains?

A dental hygienist can help remove tooth staining with scale and polish treatments or air polishing but they can’t do anything to change the natural colour of your teeth. If you need whitening treatments, speak to your dentist about the available options.

The difference between extrinsic and intrinsic tooth staining

Extrinsic tooth stains are caused by food, drink and other external factors like smoking, oral bacteria, and medications.

Intrinsic tooth staining comes from within the tooth itself. It develops when the inner layer of the tooth (the dentin) is damaged. This can be caused by:

• Ageing, as teeth naturally lose some of their whiteness as we age.

• Trauma to the tooth from an accident or surgery.

• An infection that damages the dental nerve.

• Using certain medications or high doses of fluoride while the teeth are still developing.

Intrinsic staining requires more complex treatment than extrinsic staining. Speak to your dentist about the options available.

Professional teeth whitening and cleaning: what are your options?

Dentists can offer a range of cleaning and whitening treatment options:

• Scale and polish: The standard cleaning technique. A scale removes plaque and tartar from the tooth and gumline, usually with ultrasonic tools or hand instruments. The dentist then buffs the teeth with a rotating rubber cup and some gritty paste to remove some of the surface staining.

• Air polishing: Less abrasive than scaling, air polishing uses a jet of air, water, and fine powder to blast away plaque, surface stains, and biofilm.

Both air polishing and scale and polish are recommended as maintenance treatments every 6-12 months as part of your regular dental care.

For more stubborn stains, speak to your dentist about whitening treatments that bleach the dental enamel and lighten the colour of your teeth. Options include in-chair treatments like laser whitening and at-home bleaching kits. The effects can last from six months to three years, depending on your diet, lifestyle and oral care routine.

Foods and drinks that are actually good for your teeth

Many foods and drinks are good for teeth. From neutralising harmful acids to providing calcium and phosphate for strong teeth, these foods and drinks are top choices for your dental health:

• Apples, carrots and celery: Chewing crunchy fruits and vegetables helps to clean teeth and stimulates saliva production.

• Yoghurt, cheese and milk: Dairy is a good source of calcium and phosphate and can neutralise acids that otherwise soften the dental enamel.

• Spinach, kale and broccoli: Dark green vegetables that grow upwards have calcium as part of their structure. This mineral supports dental enamel and strong, healthy teeth.

• Water: Tap, filtered or mineral water is pH neutral and the best way to cleanse your mouth and teeth after a meal.

FAQs

Does whitening toothpaste actually remove tooth stains?

Whitening toothpastes contain abrasive compounds, enzymes and anti-plaque agents that scrub and whiten teeth gradually over a period of time. How effective they are depends on how often you use the toothpaste, what kinds of teeth-staining foods and drinks you consume, and whether your smoke or use medications that can affect tooth whiteness.

How long does it take for food and drink to stain your teeth?

This depends on how often you eat and drink teeth-staining foods, and your oral hygiene routine. Compounds in heavily pigmented foods like coffee and red wine begin to stick to your teeth almost immediately. After few days of eating, drinking and not brushing teeth, the enamel will begin to change colour.

Can tooth staining be reversed at home?

Tooth staining can be treated at home with teeth whitening kits from your dentist. Regular brushing and flossing is also recommended to support oral health and whiter teeth.

Does smoking stain teeth more than food and drink?

Yes, smoking causes deeper and more stubborn dental stains compared to food and drink. Smoking also increases the risk of gingivitis (gum inflammation) and gum disease, which can lead to tooth loss.

Are teeth staining foods the same as teeth-damaging foods?

Not all teeth staining foods are damaging to teeth. Tea, for example, can stain teeth but is a good source of fluoride that helps protect dental enamel.

Teeth-damaging foods include sugary foods, sweets, fruit juices and sugary drinks. These foods soften the enamel, leaving teeth prone to stains and damage, and can affect the healthy balance of oral bacteria.

Can children's teeth stain in the same way as adults?

Children’s teeth are more prone to staining compared to adult’s because the enamel layer that protects the tooth is less mineralised and still developing.

The best ways to protect children’s teeth from stains are to limit sugary foods and drinks, provide water to drink rather than fruit juice or cordial, and practice regular brushing twice a day with a suitable children’s fluoride toothpaste.

Sources

Karanjkar, R. R., Preshaw, P. M., Ellis, J. S., & Holliday, R. 2022. Effect of tobacco and nicotine in causing staining of dental hard tissues and dental materials: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Clinical and Experimental Dental Research, 9(1), 150. https://doi.org/10.1002/cre2.683

Oral Health Foundation, n.d. 10 food and drinks with surprising health benefits. Available at https://www.dentalhealth.org/blog/10-foods-and-drinks-with-surprising-oral-health-benefits [Accessed 3 July 2026].

Oral Health Foundation, n.d. About tooth whitening. Available at https://www.dentalhealth.org/about-tooth-whitening [Accessed 3 July 2026].

Suriyasangpetch, S., Sivavong, P., Niyatiwatchanchai, B., Osathanon, T., Gorwong, P., Pianmee, C., & Nantanapiboon, D. 2022. Effect of Whitening Toothpaste on Surface Roughness and Colour Alteration of Artificially Extrinsic Stained Human Enamel: In Vitro Study. Dentistry Journal, 10(10), 191. https://doi.org/10.3390/dj10100191