Here are 8 of the most common habits that can stain your teeth!
Stained teeth are a common concern, and while they may not look great, they can usually be treated with straightforward and affordable whitening treatments. To prevent your teeth from discolouring any further or after a teeth whitening treatment, you can take some steps to keep them bright and white for longer. Here are 8 of the most common habits that can stain your teeth.
One. Teeth staining drinks
Several drinks are notorious for staining teeth, some of the more common ones are red wine, tea, and coffee. While having one or two of these every now and then is unlikely to do much to your teeth in the way of discolouration, it’s likely to occur if you are a regular coffee, wine or tea drink drinker. The dark pigments in these adhere to the enamel of the teeth and cause them to darken over time. If you like to indulge in these beverages, rather than cutting them out of your life, ensure you are drinking water after having them and brushing your teeth day and night for two minutes.
Two. Teeth staining food
Many types of foods can stain your teeth, and a good way to tell if a food will discolour your teeth or not is if it stains your fingers. Some foods that cause teeth stains are beetroot, berries, tomato sauce, curry and soy sauce. If you can limit how much of these you eat, you can drastically reduce the likelihood of them staining your teeth. If you don’t want to cut back, ensure you are drinking plenty of water with your meal while you are eating and afterwards.
Three. Keeping drink or food in your mouth longer than you should
If you have a habit of keeping food or drink in your mouth and swishing it around you shouldn’t, because this can stain your teeth fast. The longer the food or drink is in contact with your teeth, the more it will discolour your teeth. Using a straw when drinking is a good way to bypass the front of the teeth and avoid discolouration.
Four. Not having enough water during the day
Drinking water has many benefits, including keeping hydrated, maintaining good digestion, delivering ample oxygen throughout the body and reducing the amount of stains left behind on the teeth. If you are eager to keep your teeth stain-free, ensure that you are drinking a lot of water each day and especially when you have had drinks or food that are more likely to stain the teeth.
Five. Smoking
Smoking can take a toll on many facets of your body, and not in a good way. The teeth are prone to yellowing from smoking. Not only that, smoking can cause decay and disease of the teeth, gums and tongue. The nicotine and tar can settle into cracks of the teeth and into the enamel. Additionally, nicotine can promote faster plaque growth and this can cause further problems for your oral health. If you are a smoker, quitting is the best way to improve your oral health and reduce further yellowing. If you can’t quit, cutting back on how much you smoke can help as well as ensuring you are drinking plenty of water and brushing your teeth frequently.
Six. Consuming acidic drinks
Acidic drinks may seem harmless when it comes to staining teeth, however. they can promote stains. They soften enamel making your teeth more prone to staining from drinks and food. Both soft drinks and sports drinks are notorious for containing high levels of acid and pigments and these can promote more staining than if you were to go without these drinks. These types of beverages are not only bad for the colour of your teeth but they typically contain large amounts of sugar, and this can lead to tooth decay and a breadth of other dental concerns. If you do indulge in these drinks, to prevent your teeth from discolouring, it’s a good idea to eliminate them or cut them back at the very least.
Seven. Poor dental hygiene
Proper dental hygiene is integral for many reasons, one of them is that plaque build-up retains stains on the teeth and causes them to yellow. Ensuring that you are maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the best ways you can prevent your teeth from yellowing. Brushing twice a day along with flossing is advisable. If you have stubborn stains, try using a whitening toothpaste. If this doesn’t shift them, you may need to book in a professional whitening treatment to rectify the issue.
Eight. Limited dentist visits
Not everyone loves going to the dentist, we get it, but by booking regular visits, you can ensure that your teeth are in optimal condition. Your dentist can perform professional cleans which can whiten them and remove some of the stains on your teeth. They can also advise you on what treatments you need and how you can prevent your teeth from discolouring further.
We hope this post has given you an idea of what you can do to prevent your teeth from stains. A little effort on your part can go a long way to maintaining a beautiful and healthy-looking smile. If you are looking for a holistic dentist to help you maintain your dental health, look no further than our passionate team here at Soul Dental.