You do your best to keep your teeth clean, healthy, and sparkling white. But over time, their shine tends to fade and you might notice them turning more and more off white, even with yellow or brown stains on them. Your oral hygiene routine and the food and drink you consume can have a big effect on this.

If you want to avoid your teeth from becoming stained, then read on for our top tips…

Preventing stains

There are many dark foods and drinks that can leave a mark on your teeth, especially if you consume them regularly. Here are some of the biggest culprits when it comes to teeth staining:

• Coffee
• Red wine
• Soda
• Dark fruit juices, e.g. grape and blackcurrant
• Beets
• Blueberries

One way of preventing stains is to cut back on these things or cut them out entirely. Cutting out soda is especially beneficial for your teeth because these drinks are high in sugar, leading to a variety of dental problems other than staining your teeth. When you do consume any of the drinks listed above, you can reduce the staining effects by drinking them through a straw, stopping the liquid from coating the front of your teeth.

Another way to fight stains is to brush your teeth and use mouthwash after eating, especially if you’ve had anything that’s notorious for staining your teeth. If you’re not in a situation where you can do this, then rinsing with water after eating will help to wash food particles from your teeth. Seeing your dentist regularly to get your teeth cleaned will also help to keep your teeth white.

Tobacco can badly stain your teeth, particularly if you chew it but also for smokers. As well as the many other health benefits you can gain from quitting smoking, we recommend quitting if you’re trying to get whiter, brighter teeth.

Treating stains

If you’ve already noticed staining on your teeth and want to get rid of it, then there are a few methods you can try. Whitening toothpaste is formulated to help you get whiter teeth over time by using it daily. This can be effective to an extent. However, whitening toothpaste is designed to be slightly more abrasive than regular toothpaste, so it may lead to sensitive teeth when used in the long-term.

You can also purchase DIY teeth whitening kits, but they are not always effective and can even be unsafe if not applied properly. If you’re looking for brighter, whiter teeth, then the best solution is to book professional teeth whitening with your dentist.

If you need to book a dental appointment for teeth whitening, cleaning, or just your regular check-up, then contact Advance Family Dental for pain-free dentistry in Bermuda Run.