A person’s smile can reveal a lot about who they are and what they’re like on the inside. A sparkling display of pearly whites makes an excellent first impression. Of course, having perfectly white teeth was never a default. In fact, human teeth have a light yellow color.
However, as you get older, your teeth stain yellow even more because the surface enamel of your teeth cracks and erodes over time. This exposes the dentin — the less dense tooth interior that absorbs food color. Plaque and tartar buildup on teeth and in the spaces between them can also hold stains in place.
Read on to learn about teeth stains, their causes, and how to prevent them.
Types of Teeth Stains
The three types of teeth discoloration are extrinsic, intrinsic, and age-related.
- Extrinsic Stain of Teeth: The stains only affect the tooth enamel, which is the tooth’s surface.
- Intrinsic Stain of Teeth: This kind of stain is inside the tooth. It’s hard to get rid of over-the-counter drugstore whitening products.
- Age-related: Teeth gradually lose enamel as you age, making them look yellow. Teeth discoloration from aging can be from both intrinsic and extrinsic factors.
Teeth Stain Causes
Many things can stain your teeth. You can avoid some, but others are out of your hands. Here are the top causes:
- Foods and drinks: Coffee, tea, dark sodas, red wine, some fruits and vegetables, acidic foods, and snacks are all known to stain teeth.
- Tobacco and smoking: Both cigarettes and chewing tobacco can make your teeth look yellow.
- Insufficient oral care: Bad dental hygiene (like not brushing or flossing enough) can cause your teeth to change color.
- Trauma or disease: Any injury, illness, or disease that affects enamel development can cause teeth discoloration.
- Medical treatments: Medical treatments and medications — like those for high blood pressure, chemotherapy, antihistamines, antibiotics, and some antipsychotics — can cause teeth to change color.
How Do I Keep My Teeth White?
Brushing at least twice a day should always be the practice. You can also avoid tooth discoloration by following some of the tips below.
1. Quit Smoking
Consider cutting back or quitting if you smoke. Smoking can cause enamel damage and tooth discoloration.
2. Drink Plenty of Fluids
Plaque buildup on teeth can be avoided, and oral health can be preserved by drinking plenty of fluids. Water helps prevent tooth decay by removing food particles and cavity-causing bacteria from your mouth.
3. Avoid Coffee, Tea, and Other Acidic Drinks
Teeth enamel can be damaged and discolored by these beverages. Tannins — or acidic polyphenols — are found in coffee and are responsible for staining the teeth. You can also avoid teeth-staining foods.
4. Chew Your Food Properly
When you chew your food well, you break it into smaller pieces that can’t stick together easily and cause plaque. Also, chewing increases saliva flow, resulting in a coating over your teeth, which helps keep them from getting stained.
5. Use Proper Oral Care Products at Home
You can opt to use teeth whitening toothpaste to help you with teeth discoloration. Keep in mind that they don’t whiten teeth intrinsically.
You can also use whitening kits. Whitening gel trays that are custom fit to your teeth are one of the best and most sustainable ways to get long-lasting white teeth. Most people get the desired results after two to three weeks of daily use. For stubborn yellowing, it may take six to eight weeks.
Teeth Grinding and Teeth Discoloration
These two are related. Teeth grinding can weaken the teeth by exposing and wearing down teeth enamel.
Grinding wears down your teeth and speeds up the aging process. It’s essential to invest in mouth guards if you’re prone to teeth grinding. It will protect your teeth from wear, and it can keep your teeth from becoming discolored.
The Bottom Line
Maintaining healthy teeth and gums relies on regular, thorough oral hygiene practices. You may be able to avoid tooth discoloration by making some easy adjustments to your daily routine. Following these five guidelines and maintaining routine dental check ups will help you maintain a beautiful, white smile for years.
If you’re looking for good whitening products that combine excellence in both efficacy and comfort, Shopremi is here to help. We offer custom mouth guards and custom teeth whitening kits to keep your teeth healthy and white.
Have questions, chat with our experts at shopremi.com
