How to Avoid Teeth Stains

Don’t worry, it’s easier than you think to maintain a brilliant smile while still indulging in the foods and drinks that you love. We’ve outlined a few simple steps that you can take right away.

The Common Culprits When It Comes to Teeth Stains

Things you do every day could be causing your teeth to go from white to yellow:

A variety of drinks could cause the yellowing of your pearly whites. Do you like red wine, cola, coffee, or tea? What about dark fruit juices like cranberry or pomegranate? Unfortunately, all of those tasty beverages that you might indulge in on a daily basis are contributors to teeth stains

In addition to beverages, there are foods that can yellow your teeth, too. These include beets, berries, tomato sauce, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, pigmented candy, and dark caramel.

If you use tobacco products, every puff is contributing to unsightly teeth. Plus, certain medications can cause yellow teeth as one of their side effects. Yikes!

Here’s How to Prevent, and Undo, the Damage

It would be virtually impossible to avoid the things that can stain your teeth. So the only thing you can do is work on preventing stains as best as possible while removing existing stains with the appropriate treatments.

• Crunchy fruits and veggies, such as carrots and apples, can help keep your teeth clean naturally, thanks to their texture. Strawberries and pineapple could also inhibit staining. 

• When drinking tea, juice, soda, or coffee, consider using a straw, as that will help keep the beverage off of your teeth.

• Have some water in between drinking beverages that stain your teeth, as well as while you are eating foods that are known for staining enamel. Doing so will help cleanse the mouth before stains can take hold.

• Brushing and flossing after a tooth-staining drink or meal will also cleanse the mouth, and a whitening toothpaste will do an even better job at brightening your smile. Plus, flossing will further help reduce plaque that can attract stains.

• In addition to rinsing with water, you can use an antibacterial mouthwash to reduce plaque and staining. Bonus points if your mouthwash also has ingredients that can whiten your teeth.

• Chewing sugar-free gum that contains xylitol can stimulate the production of saliva that could assist in keeping your entire mouth fresher and your teeth whiter.

• Use whitening kits that can be purchased over-the-counter. Bleaching products come in various forms, from whitening strips to whitening trays. Plus, you get to use them while in the comfort of your own home. Unsure about which product is best? Consult your dentist.

Nothing Beats a Professional Cleaning and Whitening Treatment!

Following the tips above will certainly help, but to get the most brilliant smile, nothing beats a professional cleaning and advanced whitening treatment. Talk to your dentist about the whitening procedures available, as you might be able to dramatically whiten your teeth within one or more short appointments, rather than getting slower results over a longer period of time by doing it all at home.

Now that you know what causes teeth stains, as well as what you can do to prevent and remove them, you can take steps to keep your smile bright and beautiful. So go ahead and proudly flash those pearly whites!

Sources:

• https://www.rdhmag.com/career-profession/students/article/16405331/reduction-of-tooth-stains-patient-education-is-vital-to-preventing-tooth-stain
• https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/stains-teeth
• https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/teeth-whitening/how-to-maintain-white-teeth
• https://www.prevention.com/health/a20429329/11-ways-to-prevent-and-reduce-tooth-stains
• https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/tooth-discoloration