Acidic foods with strong color can lead to tooth staining. Nobody wants to see their smile looking dull but if you regularly consume foods that stain, that is exactly what will happen. While whitening your teeth can improve the color, whitening too much can also cause damage to your enamel. If you want a whiter smile, it's important that you don't just whiten your teeth, but also change your eating habits to limit tooth staining. Listed below are four items you should avoid consuming regularly if you want to keep your smile bright and shiny.

1. Coffee

The tannins in coffee will leave unfortunate stains on your teeth. While the occasional cup of coffee is fine, consuming coffee on a regular basis will cause your teeth to lose some of their bright shine. Unfortunately, many people who work in the morning do rely on coffee on a daily basis. While increasing the milk content in your coffee to dilute it may lessen some of the staining, it's not a guarantee your teeth won't lose some of their shine. If you really want to keep your teeth white, consider getting a morning energy boost from a source that isn't coffee. 

2. Red Wine

Red wine is a common cause of stained teeth. And it's pretty obvious why. When someone drinks a glass of red wine, they often look like they've bit into a dark red beet. If you let red wine sit on your teeth for too long, you can expect your smile to be less white. If you enjoy having a glass of wine at the end of a busy week, consider a white wine instead. When you do indulge in red wine, try brushing your teeth soon after you drink it. 

3. Dark Berries

Berries are delicious and can be a great source of vitamins and nutrients. But berries will also stain your smile so you should probably avoid eating them on a daily basis. Watch out for blueberries and blackberries in particular. The darker the berry, the more you can expect it to stain your teeth. Eating berries on occasion is fine but consider utilizing mouthwash after eating them. 

4. Cola 

You've probably heard that soda will damage your teeth but did you know it will stain too? The dark color of soda will dull the white in your smile. Of course, the immense sugar and acid in soda will also harm your enamel. You should never drink soda on a daily basis. Soda is bad for both your dental and physical health. One can of soda can have as much sugar as a candy bar so if you're drinking soda with every meal, you are wreaking havoc on your body and smile. Switch out soda for water and only indulge in cola as a treat on rare occasions.

Any of the above listed food items are fine to indulge in on occasion but should not be a part of your regular diet. Limiting the amount of foods you eat that can stain your teeth will keep your smile white and bright.