The best way to keep your smile looking bright is to avoid consumption of staining substances.
- Reduce consumption of coffee, tea, and red wine (tooth staining beverages)
Coffee, tea and wine contain dark pigments called chromogens, which stick to the tooth enamel surface, causing them to darken over time. Obviously, cutting out these drinks isn’t always visible, but small things like sipping water intermittently is recommended to help reduce the staining effect of these drinks. Adding milk to tea or coffee can also dilute these staining components.
- Eating teeth-staining foods
As with drinks, foods can stain the teeth as well, especially foods which stain your fingers as you eat them. Foods that are brightly coloured such as berries, beetroot, sticky lollies and even richly coloured sauces such as curry, tomato sauce and soy sauce, can stain the teeth.
- Drinking acidic beverages
The acidity of some drinks such as white wine and carbonated drinks soften tooth enamel, making teeth more prone to stains from other food and drinks. Soft drinks and sports drinks generally contain substantial quantities of acid, sugar and pigments. These should be ideally avoided or only consumed in moderation.
- Holding food and drink in the mouth
The longer food and drinks are in contact with the teeth, the more time there is to leave stains behind. It is important to not keep food and drink in the mouth for longer than necessary before swallowing - consider using a straw for some drinks – this helps limit the contact time.
- Not drinking enough water
Drinking the recommended quantity of water throughout the day is important for the hydration of your mouth and the quality of saliva. Saliva plays an important role in being able to buffer away acid production. It can also help remove stains by rinsing away any substances left on the teeth after eating. If you live in a fluoridated area, drinking tap water with fluoride can also help to protect your teeth against decay.
- Smoking
There are many health reasons to quit smoking, but tobacco is causes a huge amount of staining in teeth, whether it is smoked or chewed. Besides stains, smoking is one of the common risk factors for many oral health problems including gum disease and oral cancer.
- Not brushing and flossing your teeth
Dental plaque forms on the surfaces of the teeth and tends to retain bacteria; good oral hygiene helps to reduce the build-up of plaque. Dentists recommend brushing twice daily using fluoridated toothpaste and using dental floss at least once a day.
It is important to have regular cleans and check ups at the dental clinic to achieve optimum oral health and to avoid the build up of stain on the teeth. For any additional information please contact Concord Dental Practice on 9743 4001.
https://www.bupadental.com.au/blog/article/8-habits-that-can-stain-teeth
