Things we eat and drink like colas, tea, coffee, juices and certain medications can lead to discolored teeth. Certain habits like smoking can also stain teeth and leave them discolored. The natural color for teeth is a very light yellow, but it tends to become more yellow as a person ages. One of the reasons for this is that tooth enamel wears out throughout a person's life. This can lead to the dentin becoming exposed to coloring agents in the food a person eats making them appear darker. Stains also latch onto tartar buildup on teeth since it is more porous than tooth enamel.
Teeth can also become stained due to medications a person takes like certain antibiotics. The easiest types of stains to remove are yellow ones. Brownish stains can be a lot more difficult to get rid of. Since the most common type of discolored teeth tends to be the yellow ones like those caused by smoking or drinking lots of coffee, professional whitening treatments can be very effective. Of course, the best ways to keep teeth looking their best at all times is to prevent discolored teeth and stains in the first place, here are a few tips to keep them from staining.
Since most of the stains and discoloration that are found on teeth are caused by the things a person consumes, brushing after meals goes a long way when it comes to keeping teeth white. Patients should make it a habit to brush after meals or rinse their mouth with water.
Patients can use a disclosing solution to find out where plaque remains on their teeth after brushing. These are the areas where stains will develop if the person does not improve their brushing technique.
Water helps to clean teeth surfaces, and rinsing the mouth with water is the next best thing when it is not possible to brush. At the very least, patients should rinse their mouths with water after every meal.
Any mouthwash can be used to clean the mouth and freshen breath, but an antibacterial mouthwash will reduce plaque buildup. There are also mouthwashes that contain bleaching agents that can be used to keep stains and discoloration at bay.
Whitening toothpaste will not significantly whiten teeth, but it can be very effective at keeping stains and discoloration away. Quality whitening toothpaste is safe for tooth enamel.
Drinking with a straw helps to reduce the formation of stains when a person drinks a beverage with a strong coloring agent like colas. It reduces the exposure teeth have to the substance that is being consumed.
Regular dental cleanings remove tartar before it ruins the appearance of a person's teeth. Patients also get a full examination during cleanings that helps to prevent discolored teeth.
Due for a dental cleaning? Set up an appointment with one of our dentists today.
Call (718) 709-3883 today to reach 82nd St. Dental.
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Full mouth exam and X-rays
Zoom® whitening
Invisalign®
Implant *bone graft and crown extra