You may enjoy that first cup of Joe in the morning, I know I do. I also enjoy the cup I have at work, at lunch and at home. Red wine is great curled up on the sofa with a great book. What you may not know is that it is also a cause of teeth staining.

Teeth naturally range in color from light grey to yellow. The natural color of your teeth is based on the color of your enamel and unless you use a teeth whitening kit or see a professional dentist, there’s not much you can do about the color.

However when it comes to teeth stains some of them can be prevented. There are two types of teeth stains: Extrinsic and Intrinsic.

Intrinsic stains are can be caused by trauma, infections, nutritional deficiencies, genetics and ageing.

Extrinsic stains are those we can control. They include stains from plaque, foods and beverages. These stains are only cosmetic and do not reflect your oral health.

Stains from plaque can be controlled easily enough. Brush your teeth and floss regularly. See your dentist every six months for a cleaning. If the cost of seeing a dentist is prohibitive, there are many student clinics which are supervised that offer cleanings at a fraction of the price you would pay at the dentist.

Some foods known to cause staining include cherries, blueberries strawberries. Beverages include wine, tea, coffee and cola. A good way to tell if a food or beverage will stain your teeth is the white shirt test. If you spill or drop a certain food on a white shirt and the stain won’t come out, you can safely assume it will stain your teeth as well. This is one of the reasons I don’t wear white when eating ripe strawberries.

The effect on your teeth is not long lasting, if you practice good oral hygiene. Stains can also be kept to a minimum when drinking beverages that stain your teeth by using a straw, so the beverage does not come in contact with your teeth. However I don’t recommend this method if you’re out at a restaurant and you order wine.

What is important to remember is that extrinsic stains are superficially and can be prevented. By having good oral hygiene, you will prevent the build up of plaque and stains that are caused by the foods we eat and the beverages we drink.