No matter where you live or what kind of lifestyle you enjoy, chances are you have a habit that could stain your teeth. Whether you’re a coffee lover, a tea enthusiast, or a red wine connoisseur, your teeth might not be as bright as you want them to be. Here are a few tips for reducing staining on your teeth without giving up your favorite foods or beverages.
Drink Water After You Drink
Drinking water during or after you enjoy your tea, coffee, or red wine can also help reduce stains. That’s because the water can help flush away the staining compounds before they can adhere to your teeth. This is another reason why chewing gum afterward can help reduce stains. Chewing gum promotes saliva production, and saliva can help wash away staining compounds too.
Good Oral Hygiene
Brushing your teeth can help remove stains because of the abrasive components of toothpaste. But did you know that brushing and flossing can also help prevent stains? You’re more likely to accumulate stains on teeth that have plaque on them. That’s because plaque gives the staining components of your food and drink something to stick to. Think of it like this: coffee sticks to plaque, plaque sticks to your teeth, eventually stains stick to your teeth. But if you don’t have any plaque on your teeth, the staining compounds in coffee have less to hold on to!
Don’t Smoke!
This one may sound obvious, but we always have to mention it. When it comes to the damage that smoking can do to your oral and overall health, yellow teeth seems like the least of your worries. But we still can’t emphasize enough that smoking tobacco (or using other tobacco products) does terrible things to the color of your teeth. If having whiter teeth is enough of a motivator to get you to quit, we support you!
Turn to the Professionals
If you end up with staining or yellowing teeth despite all the tips listed above, feel free to ask us for advice specific to your individual smile. The professional teeth cleaning you get from the hygienist at your regular checkup can remove some stains. Plus the dentist and hygienist can look at your teeth and let you know what other treatments or lifestyle changes may be helpful.
The best teeth whitening is professional teeth whitening done here at the dentist by a dental professional. Teeth whitening kits from the drug store are effective, but they are more time consuming and may not remove stains as easily. Dentists can also provide a professional, custom version of an at-home whitening kit, with more powerful bleaching gels and bleaching trays that fit your specific teeth. We are happy to discuss which teeth whitening technique that is best for you!