Your smile is among the most noticeable things about your appearance, and stained teeth can make you feel conscious in social settings. Teeth discoloration results from many issues, including some of your daily habits. Check out some common causes below.
Poor Dental Hygiene
Poor oral hygiene is a chief cause of teeth discoloration. If you often forget to brush and floss your teeth, you encourage food stains and plaque to build up and leave stains. Use a soft-bristled brush and brush at least twice a day in circular motions to remove stain-producing food remnants and plaque. Brush gently as aggressive methods can scrub away enamel and expose the yellow-colored dentin.
If you are a reluctant brusher, get an electronic toothbrush as it requires little effort from you. However, plaque removal relies more on the brushing technique than on the toothbrush type. Also, rinse your mouth at the end of each meal and use an antibacterial mouthwash regularly.
Smoking
Teeth have pores like those in the skin, which absorb the tar and nicotine in tobacco. While nicotine is colorless, it turns yellow when it combines with oxygen. People who chew tobacco find that their teeth get severely stained as the mixture of tobacco and saliva results in a dark brown liquid that stays in the mouth for a long time.
Luckily, professional whitening treatments can remove stains caused by smoking. You will likely not see any difference with over-the-counter whitening treatments like whitening strips and toothpaste. Professional gels are more effective, and they will restore your smile after a few whitening sessions.
Eating Staining Foods
As previously stated, tooth enamel is porous and easy to stain with certain foods. If you love tomato sauces with your pasta, you may also be wearing down this outer layer as the sauces are acidic.
Berries are other staining foods since they have strong pigments that soften and stain the enamel. However, you don't have to eliminate cranberries, blackberries, and raspberries from your diet as they are full of antioxidants. Drink water to repress the staining effect after you eat berries or milk to neutralize their acidity.
While curry makes Indian dishes irresistible, its rich yellow hue stains teeth over time. When you delight in curried food, include stain-preventing foods like cucumber, celery, cauliflower, and carrots.
Drinking Tea, Coffee, and Wine
A wide variety of beverages that you may enjoy discolor teeth. For example, red wine softens and weakens the enamel and allows the staining elements in other foods to adhere to your teeth. The dark red particles of red wine also stain teeth over time.
Tea and coffee may be morning favorites for many people, but they contain tannins that allow color compounds to etch into a tooth's surface. Also, reduce your use of dark-pigmented sauces such as balsamic vinegar and soy sauce as their high acidity levels weaken and stain teeth. Energy drinks, dark cola, and fruit juices are other teeth-staining beverages.
Avoiding the Dentist
While you may dread teeth cleanings, they are painless procedures that protect your smile. Failing to keep up with regular dentist appointments contributes to staining, discoloration, gum disease, and tooth decay.
Your dentist scrapes away the plaque and tartar between your teeth and around your gumline during a professional cleaning. Then, a deep clean and expert flossing session removes any leftover plaque. A fluoride treatment to fight against cavities is the last step.
Dentists schedule professional teeth cleanings twice a year, and you should avail yourself of them to prevent discoloration. The dentist also offers lifestyle recommendations, such as foods to avoid or limit.
While tooth discoloration is common, you don't have to live with teeth that aren't as white as you desire. At Eastland Dental Center & Professional Dental Care, we offer professional whitening and take-home whitening systems that restore your natural smile.
Call us today to enjoy a brighter smile!
