Keeping your teeth white can be challenging, especially if you like eating and drinking foods that can stain your teeth. While the food you eat is the primary cause of tooth discoloration, other variables may also contribute to tarnishing them. If you want to know how to prevent teeth staining, the good news is that teeth whitening in Vero Beach may eliminate stains on teeth caused by these food residues.
While many people turn to teeth whitening services and good dental hygiene to restore their white teeth, there are other ways you can do to prevent your teeth from staining. Here are some steps you may take to prevent your teeth from turning yellow.
All About Tooth Staining and How to Prevent It
What is Tooth Staining?
Tooth staining is the discoloration or darkening of teeth, which can occur for various reasons. Staining can affect the enamel, the outermost layer of the teeth, or the dentin, the inner layer of the tooth.
Two Types of Tooth Staining
Intrinsic teeth staining occurs when the tooth’s inner structure, such as the dentin, becomes discolored. Various factors, including certain medications, excessive fluoride consumption, trauma to the tooth, and aging, can cause this.
On the other hand, extrinsic teeth staining occurs when the outer layer of the tooth, the enamel, becomes stained by external factors such as food, drinks, tobacco, and poor oral hygiene. Extrinsic staining is usually easier to treat than intrinsic staining.
There are several types of extrinsic tooth staining, including:
- Yellow staining: caused by consuming dark-colored food and drinks, smoking, and poor oral hygiene.
- Brown staining: caused by consuming tea, coffee, and cola, smoking, and poor oral hygiene.
- Gray staining: caused by taking certain medications, such as tetracycline, or exposure to excessive fluoride.
- Green staining: caused by consuming foods or drinks containing chlorophyll or copper.
Options for Treating Stained Tooth
Tooth staining can be treated through professional cleaning, teeth whitening procedures, or by addressing the underlying cause of the staining. Proper oral hygiene practices, such as regular brushing, flossing, and avoiding foods and drinks that cause staining, can also help prevent tooth staining.
Professional dental cleanings involve removing the surface stains on the teeth by polishing them with a special instrument. This can help to brighten the teeth and remove any surface discoloration caused by food or drink.
Teeth whitening procedures involve using a special over the counter bleaching agent to remove the deeper stains embedded within the enamel or dentin. Several teeth whitening methods exist, including in-office treatments, take-home kits, and over-the-counter whitening products. These procedures can effectively remove stains and restore a bright, white smile.
Finally, practicing good oral hygiene habits can go a long way in preventing tooth staining. This includes brushing and flossing regularly, avoiding foods and drinks that cause staining, and visiting the dentist for regular cleanings and checkups. By taking these steps, you can help keep your teeth looking bright and healthy for years.
Causes of Tooth Discoloration and What You Can Do to Avoid It
Inadequate Dental Hygiene
Eating colored foods is the most common cause of tooth discoloration and tooth decay. Plaque can build up on your teeth if you don’t brush and floss regularly, causing discoloration. That is why it is critical to brush for at least two minutes and floss once a day to remove any food particles and bacteria that might cause stains.
Foods and Beverages
Some meals and beverages can also discolored teeth. Pigments in coffee, tea, red wine, and dark-colored fruit can adhere to your teeth and produce discoloration. Citrus fruits and soda, for example, can erode the materials of your teeth, making them more vulnerable to discoloration.
Tobacco Consumption
Another prevalent cause of tooth discoloration is chewing tobacco. Smoking or using smokeless tobacco products can leave yellow or brown stains on your teeth, raising your risk of gum disease, teeth loss, and other dental issues.
Aging
The outer layer of your tooth enamel wears away over time, revealing the yellowish dentin beneath. Furthermore, the dentin might darken as we age, giving us a yellowish tint.
Medications
Some over the counter drugs might produce intrinsic tooth discoloration that is not eliminated by brushing or whitening. Teeth discoloration can be caused by antibiotics such as tetracycline and doxycycline, antihistamines, blood pressure medications, and chemotherapy therapies.
Genetics
Because of their genetic composition, certain people are more prone to tooth discoloration. If your parents or other family members have yellow or discolored teeth, you may be predisposed to the same issue.
Health Problems
Sometimes, tooth staining may be caused by an underlying dental condition or health issue. For example, certain medications or medical conditions can cause discoloration of the teeth. In these cases, it is important to address the underlying issue to treat the staining effectively.
Certain medical diseases, such as enamel hypoplasia, can cause teeth discoloration or mottling. Enamel hypoplasia occurs when the enamel on your teeth is thin or lacking in some spots, causing them to appear yellow or brown.
Dental Supplies
Finally, dental materials can cause discoloration of teeth over time. Silver amalgam fillings, for example, might cause surrounding teeth to appear gray or black as the metal leaches into the tooth enamel.
How Can You Avoid Teeth Staining?
The easiest approach to keep your smile bright and white is to practice proper oral hygiene, avoid staining foods and beverages, and quit smoking if you’re a smoker. If you’re unhappy with the appearance of your teeth, talk to your dentist about teeth whitening or other cosmetic solutions. You can keep your smile looking beautiful when you prevent tooth discoloration with effort and proper care.
How to Prevent Tooth Stains
Brush Your Teeth at Least Two Times a Day
Never miss brushing your teeth after consuming meals that may discolor them. Daily consumption of highly pigmented foods and beverages, including coffee, tea, colas, and other sweetened beverages, might affect the color of your teeth. These pigments can form plaque and tartar on and between your teeth, causing more staining if you don’t brush your teeth daily.
Use Mouthwash When Gargling
Today’s market is flooded with mouthwashes that can help remove tooth stains and whiten teeth. In addition to claiming to remove dental stains, these mouthwashes claim to prevent and remove plaque and tartar buildup. Mouthwashes with antibacterial qualities are another option for enhancing your oral health.
Drinking From a Straw
You can easily avoid tooth stains by using a straw when drinking sugary liquids like iced coffee, cola, and juice. Using a straw, you can avoid having the liquid go past your teeth and instead let it go straight into your mouth and stomach which helps prevent staining.
Stop Smoking and Using Tobacco Products
Regular smoking will not only stain your teeth, but it can also affect your overall oral health. The chemicals you inhale can stick to your stain teeth and gums, which causes different problems in these areas. When you stop smoking, you’re not only preventing your teeth from staining but also improving your overall health.
Flossing Regularly
Sometimes, brushing your teeth isn’t enough to prevent stained teeth. Plaque and tartar can still accumulate on and between your teeth which could cause them to stain. For this reason, dentists always advise flossing after brushing to remove any deposits of these bacteria on your teeth.
Use an Electric Toothbrush
Most dentists advise patients who don’t brush as frequently as advised to switch to an electronic toothbrush. This type can clean teeth more quickly and effectively than a traditional toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes perform differently than regular toothbrushes when cleaning teeth stains since they can thoroughly clean your teeth with little effort.
Make Use of Whitening Products
Teeth stains can be avoided by using effective whitening toothpaste. These products can reduce tooth deterioration and help improve your teeth’s shade. Whitening kits and gels can also help reduce the stains on your teeth by cleaning and removing them.
Are You Interested in Teeth Whitening in Vero Beach and How to Prevent Teeth Staining?
Here at Vero Dental Spa, we provide a variety of teeth-whitening techniques for stains of varying intensity. Our dentist can help clean your teeth and mouth to prevent stains from forming on the surface of your teeth. Give us a call today to learn more about our services.