Tips For Preventing Teeth Stains

When your mirror tells you that your pearly whites are not so white anymore, Gateway Dental Care in Pleasanton, California offers some tips to help you prevent teeth stains and restore that dazzling smile.

What Causes Teeth Stains?

Many factors can cause your teeth to yellow or stain. Intrinsic staining involves the dentin or interior structure of the tooth. Aging can also cause your teeth to yellow over time as your enamel thins, and the dentin shows through. Extrinsic staining, on the other hand, is more easily remedied since it affects the enamel or outer surface of your teeth. Some causes of extrinsic staining include:

• Red Wine
• Coffee Or Tea
• Energy Drinks
• Dark Colored Soft Drinks
• High Pigment Foods
• Smoking
• Poor Dental Hygiene

Tips To Prevent Teeth Staining At Home

1. Use a straw in your coffee, tea, or wine
2. Add whole milk to your coffee or tea
3. Decrease coffee exposure time to 30 minutes
4. Eat crunchy fruits and vegetables (carrots, celery, apples)
5. Rinse your mouth with water right after drinking or eating
6. Brush twice a day with an electric toothbrush
7. Floss once a day
8. Do not brush or floss immediately after eating or drinking acidic substances
9. Use non-abrasive whitening toothpaste
10. Use white strips only occasionally

While total avoidance of tooth staining drink or food would certainly reduce staining, some of these “guilty pleasures” such as wine, coffee, and tea are not so guilty anymore since they may have health benefits. They may also contribute to your overall enjoyment of life. But there are some things you can do to reduce their effect on your teeth. While walking around with a straw in your red wine is not for everyone, you can decrease your exposure to coffee or tea by drinking it within 30 minutes rather than sipping it for hours.

Also, frequently rinsing your mouth with water can remove some of the food or drink particles that result in the plaque and tartar buildup that attracts stains.

Dental Treatment For Teeth Staining

If you feel that your teeth are still discolored after following prevention suggestions and over-the-counter remedies, contact us at Gateway Dental Care in Pleasanton, California for a more dramatically effective bleaching treatment that will soon restore that beautiful smile.