{"id":116,"date":"2023-03-10T04:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-10T04:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.texaschoicedental.com\/blog\/?p=116"},"modified":"2023-04-10T04:31:59","modified_gmt":"2023-04-10T04:31:59","slug":"tannins-and-tooth-stains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.texaschoicedental.com\/blog\/2023\/03\/10\/tannins-and-tooth-stains\/","title":{"rendered":"The Connection Between Tannins & A Discolored Smile"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Does it seem that no matter how much you brush your teeth or try over-the-counter whitening products, your smile always becomes discolored? While a consistent oral health routine is important in keeping your teeth healthy and bright<\/a>, teeth staining can occur because of the types of food and drink you consume. Goodies like wine, coffee, curry, and blueberries contain a compound called tannin, which causes your pearly whites to become not so pearly. Read on to learn the connection between tannins and tooth discoloration\u2026and how to protect your smile from them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Are Tannins & How Do They Discolor Teeth?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your tooth enamel is the outer covering of your teeth that causes them to be white and shiny. While it is the strongest substance in the body, it is porous. While these little holes absorb healthy substances like calcium and fluoride, they also take in harmful ones like sugar and tannins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what exactly are tannins? They are organic compounds that give certain foods and drink their dark color and bitter taste. Since they interact with various particles in the mouth, like carbohydrates and enzymes, they are more likely to have sugar and bacteria stick to them. As a result, if your smile is coated in tannins, it\u2019s likely to also have these harmful substances on it, too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These particles begin to produce acids as they decay, burning through the enamel and causing cavities and discoloration. In short, the more you consume tannins, the more these compounds harm and discolor your teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the Most Common Items that Contain Tannins?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tannins are in a range of foods and drinks\u2026as well as herbs and spices! Here are a few of the most common ones they can be found in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n