How to Preserve the Natural Whiteness of Your Teeth and Prevent Staining
There has been an exponential increase in the need for cosmetic dental services in America in the last decade. The most popular dental procedure continues to be teeth whitening services.
While yellow teeth is not an indication of a serious underlying medical condition, it takes away from the sparkle of your smile. It can be a reason for the loss of confidence. In a 2015 ADA survey, close to a third of participants in the 18-34 age group said the appearance of mouth and teeth affects the ability to interview for a job.
The natural whiteness of your teeth is a passport to better social acceptance. As you grow old, the color of your teeth can become dull and yellow naturally and due to the food choices you make. However, there are several ways you can fight and combat this process and keep your teeth in sparkling condition.
Our teeth have four dental tissues – enamel, dentin, and cementum. These three are hard tissues. The fourth tissue is pulp, or the tooth’s center, containing nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue.
Over time, the tooth enamel layer starts thinning itself due to chewing, exposing the yellow dentin. This is the primary reason for teeth appearing yellowish as more and more of the dentin gets exposed.
Whether you recently had teeth whitening treatment or you’re looking to protect your smile’s natural glow, here are some tips to prevent stains.
Unfortunately, several foods and beverages can stain your teeth. Stain-makers to look out for include:
- Pasta sauce / Tomato-based sauces.
- Pigmented fruit like Blueberries and other dark berries
- Food dye
- Balsamic vinegar/ Soy sauce
- White or red wine
- Coffee/tea
- Dark-colored soda like cola, and root beer
- Fruit juices like cranberry, blueberry, and grape juices
- Beetroot
As a rule, if a portion of food will stain your hands or clothes, it may also stain your teeth! If you consume these kinds of foods daily, consider rinsing your mouth after eating or brushing your teeth to prevent stains.
While some beverages can stain your teeth and dull your smile, you don’t have to quit altogether. Sipping stain-causing drinks with a straw will prevent the liquid from getting near your teeth’ visible front surfaces. Limiting your consumption of acidic beverages like dark-colored soda, coffee, tea, and fruit juices ensures good oral health and more radiant teeth.
On the other hand, there is a lengthy list of foods that help reduce staining or discoloration on your teeth. Consuming these foods helps produce saliva, which combines with the foods’ fibers to clean your teeth naturally. Many foods also include excellent minerals for your teeth, such as calcium, iron, and vitamin-B.
These include:
- Water
- Broccoli
- Cheese
- Apple
- Pineapple
- Carrots
- Onions
- Celery
- Shitake Mushrooms
Smoking is the biggest threat to your oral wellness. It is one of the quickest ways to get stained teeth. The tar released from your cigarette can lead to gum diseases and mouth cancers. Tobacco chewing is equally harmful.
Eliminating stain-causing tobacco isn’t just beneficial for preventing your teeth from turning ugly brownish/yellowish but for your overall dental health. Smoking can cause oral cancer, cripple teeth, destroy taste buds, and prevent your gums and teeth’ natural healing process. There are countless reasons to stop smoking, and avoiding tooth stains is one of them!
Whitening toothpaste is a perfect solution to remove surface stains that may have collected throughout the day. It’s a simple step, but it can give your teeth a twice-daily whitening refresher, giving you many more reasons to smile. You should also replace your toothbrush regularly.
The best way to protect your teeth from getting stained is an excellent oral care routine. Since plaque attracts staining substances, reducing staining foods, beverages will reduce overall discoloration. Twice-daily brushing and flossing once a day as well will help to keep your mouth clean, healthy, and stain-free.
Aside from daily oral-care, what more can you do to keep your teeth white? Regular teeth cleanings preserve your gorgeous smile. Your doctor or dental hygienist can polish away surface stains and remove plaque stuck on the teeth. Professional cleaning helps you fight tooth discoloration without the need to repeatedly bleach your teeth again.
Visit your dentist’s office for routine checkups at least two times a year for the best results!
Professional whitening procedures are done in-office by a dentist who uses whitening products and techniques to speed the whitening process and give your smile a makeover.
- Teeth Whitening applies a bleaching gel to the teeth and then activates that bleaching gel using a special blue light. This system allows the bleaching agent to have its full effect in about an hour. You can leave the appointment with teeth that are 8-10 shades whiter.
- Veneers are thin, tooth-shaped shells that are bonded on top of your natural teeth to conceal defects like chips, cracks, and deep stains that don’t respond to teeth whitening treatments result in giving you a teeth makeover.
During a teeth whitening session, your dentist will apply a peroxide-based whitening gel to your teeth after taking adequate measures to protect your gums. Teeth whitening does not damage enamel.
Again, teeth whiteners may not correct all types of discoloration. For example, veneers and crowns will not be affected at all. It is important to talk to your dentist before deciding to whiten your teeth.
If you want to bleach your teeth at home, be sure to use only professionally recommended or dentist-provided bleaching products.
It is worthwhile to note that certain diseases and medications affect the enamel and dentin in the mouth. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause discolored teeth. Again some antibiotics like tetracycline and doxycycline can also stain teeth.
Strong mouthwashes may have chemical compositions like chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride. These erode teeth enamel and cause discoloration.
If your teeth are stained or yellowed, Midtowne Smiles is here to help.
At Midtowne Smiles, Dr. Burton and his team work hard to ensure you get answers and solutions for all dental health, comfort, and appearance.
We have several comfortable and convenient teeth makeover options. Our team can help restore your bright, gorgeous, natural smile!
In addition to teeth whitening, Midtowne Smiles can assist you with clear braces for teeth straightening and other cosmetic dentistry treatments, such as dental bonding, dental veneers, inlays, onlays, teeth whitening, and more.
Call us today or complete our online appointment form. We will be happy to help with the right solution!