Everyone loves a white and bright smile. However, many tooth-staining foods and drinks consumed on a daily basis, can cause teeth staining. The good news though is that most of those stains are removable. There are ways to whiten our teeth can prevent them from getting stained again.
Types of staining
Extrinsic staining: It is found on the surface of the tooth and is caused by food and drink build-up, which covers the enamel.
Intrinsic staining: It refers to the staining below the surface of the tooth and occurs when food, drink, or other types of build-up goes beyond the tooth’s enamel.
While extrinsic staining can be removed by DIY methods such as whitening toothpaste, intrinsic staining often needs professional cleaning.
Age-related staining: As we age, our teeth tend to get discolored as the enamel wears down over time and the dentin layer becomes more visible. This, combined with extrinsic and intrinsic staining can cause serious discoloration, which is hard to get rid of.
Common causes of teeth staining
Strongly pigmented foods and drinks
Consuming certain foods and drinks such as tea, coffee, red wine, berries, or even red sauces can cause your teeth to become stained. The pigment in these foods and drinks can get into the pores of your enamel and cause staining. This is the reason your dentist always tells you to rinse your mouth after every meal.
Alcohol and Tobacco
Wine is known to cause teeth staining, however, not many are aware that other alcoholic beverages such as beer or whiskey can also cause teeth staining. These beverages make your saliva acidic, which can weaken your enamel and make your teeth more prone to staining. Chewing tobacco or smoking cigarettes can also cause brown or yellow discoloration.
Medical Treatments
Certain medications such as high blood pressure medications, antipsychotic medications, and certain antibiotics are known to cause teeth staining. Those undergoing chemotherapy are also more prone to teeth staining.
Poor Dental Hygiene
When someone does not regularly brush or floss their teeth, food particles are allowed to linger on the surface for too long. This can increase the chances of teeth staining. These particles can also make their way into the enamel and cause intrinsic staining.
Preventing Teeth Staining
Some simple things you can do to keep your teeth stain-free and pearly white include:
- Brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day- once when you wake up and once before going to bed
- Flossing is as important as brushing. Make sure your floss between your teeth every day
- Choose the right toothpaste. There are many dentist-approved whitening toothpastes you can use to get a whiter smile
- Avoid food and drinks that can stain teeth such as too much tea, coffee, candy, colored pop, and red wine. Using a straw to drink these beverages can prevent staining to a large extent
- Quit smoking
- Rinse your mouth and drink water after consuming drinks that are too acidic
How to Get Rid of Teeth Stains?
Apart from toothpaste, there are some over-the-counter whitening products that are effective. You can talk to your dentist and ensure that you are using the right product. If the stains are stubborn, you may need professional whitening treatment from your dentist. There are a variety of ways in which your dentist can whiten your teeth including the popular Zoom Teeth Whitening. The dentist will examine your teeth and recommend the right treatment.
If you need help making your smile perfect again and removing teeth stains, our team of experts can take care of it. Contact us today and get your teeth white and stain-free.
