The good news is that light-colored beers, such as Budweiser or Coors, will probably not stain your teeth. Also, a cold light beer is often more refreshing during the hot summer months than a heavier, dark beer anyway.
Dark Beers
Dark beers are usually brewed from a pale malt or lager malt base with a small proportion of darker malt added to achieve the desired shade. Other colourants—such as caramel—are also widely used to darken beers. Very dark beers, such as stout, use dark or patent malts that have been roasted longer. Some have roasted unmalted barley. In contrast, heavier, darker-colored beers such as Guinness, many of which are crafted with black patent malt or roasted barley, may indeed stain the teeth — especially if you drink these types of beers regularly.
To help avoid tooth discoloration, you can try drinking your dark beer with a straw. If that sounds silly, at least rinse out your mouth after you drink a dark beer; or, if you can, brush your teeth.
Improving the Look of Beer-Stained Teeth
If you cannot give up your favorite dark-colored beers or already have visibly stained teeth, you can follow some ways to naturally whiten your teeth.
Brush With Baking Soda
Baking soda has natural whitening properties, which is why it’s a popular ingredient in commercial toothpaste. It’s a mild abrasive that can help scrub away surface stains on teeth. Additionally, baking soda creates an alkaline environment in your mouth, which prevents bacteria from growing. This is not a remedy that will whiten your teeth overnight, but you should notice a difference in the appearance of your teeth over time. Science has not yet proven that brushing with plain baking soda will whiten your teeth, but several studies show that toothpaste with baking soda has a significant whitening effect.
One study found that toothpastes containing baking soda were significantly more effective at removing yellow stains from teeth than standard toothpastes without baking soda. The higher the concentration of baking soda, the greater the effect. Furthermore, a review of five studies found that toothpastes containing baking soda removed plaque from teeth more effectively than non-baking soda toothpastes.
To use this remedy, mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 2 teaspoons of water and brush your teeth with the paste. You can do this a few times per week. You can buy baking soda at a grocery store or find it online.
Use Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has been used for centuries as a disinfectant and natural cleaning product. Acetic acid, which is the main active ingredient in apple cider vinegar, effectively kills bacteria.
the rest on next page
ADVERTISEMENT
