Soda has sugar and soft drinks that can break down the enamel, making your teeth dull. To avoid this, drink iced tea. Most iced teas contain malic acid, an organic compound also found in strawberries, which has strong bleaching properties. It also increases saliva production to help fight tooth decay and prevent dullness. Illustration. Swim often If you are a dedicated swimmer and spend more than 6 hours per week in the pool, you will most likely notice brown accumulating teeth. When swimming, you can accidentally put water in your mouth, all chemicals in the pool water can cause stains on your teeth. While chlorine helps remove bacteria in the water, it can make your teeth yellow or brown and weaken the enamel that makes teeth sensitive. Illustration. Using the wrong mouthwash Mouthwash gives you good breath, but you should check the label before you buy. Certain ingredients in mouthwash can react with the staining compounds in food, which, instead of lightening your teeth, can dull the color. Choose ones that do not contain chlorhexidine or eucalyptol and only rinse your mouth before bed. Illustration. Use a bristle brush Using a bristle brush will not make your teeth whiter. In fact, brushing too hard can erode your enamel. This will make your teeth more susceptible to cavities and yellowing. Dentists recommend using a soft toothbrush and replacing it every 3 months. Illustration. Eat a lot of spices Adding seasoning to your food will add flavor and different aroma to your dish, but you can limit some of the spices if you want to keep your teeth white. Certain highly pigmented spices, such as curry, can stain your teeth. If you don’t like the taste of simple meals, spice up your dishes with herbs that may have oral health benefits like thyme, turmeric or cinnamon. Illustration. Stress When under a lot of pressure, instinctively, we can grind our teeth to relieve stress. By doing so often, we can damage our teeth without even realizing it. In addition to giving you headaches and jaw pain, sharpening your teeth can weaken your enamel, stain and brittle.