Reasons and Remedies for Tooth Discoloration

Everyone dreams of having brilliantly white teeth. However, many people struggle with their self-confidence due to teeth that have become stained or discolored. Continue reading to find out more about how you can get rid of and prevent tooth discoloration from occurring.

What Leads to Discolored Teeth?

There are many underlying causes of discolored teeth. Age is one factor in the problem. As you age, the layer of enamel over your teeth becomes weaker and begins to wear away. This leads to the darker layer of dentin underneath the enamel becoming visible. Certain medications and trauma to a tooth can also cause the teeth to become discolored. Other factors that can lead to this unsightly problem include the types of food and beverages you consume, as well as whether or not you use tobacco products of any kind.

Discolored Teeth Can Be Caused by the Food You Eat

Many people are unaware of the negative impact that their favorites foods and drinks can have upon the color of their teeth. Frequently consuming the below substances can lead to your teeth becoming stained or discolored.

• Sugary Beverages – Sodas, sports drinks, fruit juices, and other beverages full of sugars erode the enamel from your teeth. This leads to the teeth becoming much darker in appearance.
• Dark Drinks – Coffee, tea, and red wine are all beverages that can cause the teeth to become stained. These beverages contain acids that can destroy the enamel of your teeth.
• Sweet Snacks – Candies, gums, and other sweets contain lots of sugar, which attacks tooth enamel and leads to discoloration.
• Starchy Foods – Foods such as potatoes, pastas, cereals, white breads, and rice contain starches and sugars that wear down tooth enamel.

Prevent Stained Teeth by Consuming Certain Foods

Eating a balanced diet is an excellent way to prevent your teeth from becoming discolored. The best kinds of foods and beverages to consume in order to keep your teeth white are:

• Water – Not only is water the healthiest drink you can consume when it comes to your overall physical health, but it also helps rinse away hidden food particles, sugars and acids from the teeth.
• Sugar-Free Drinks – While water is always the best thing you can drink, sugar-free drinks are another good option as they don’t contain harmful sugars that will wear down tooth enamel.
• Milk and Cheese – Dairy products increase saliva flow within the mouth, which helps to neutralize the acids present within your mouth. In addition to this, dairy products also contain calcium and protein, both of which make your teeth stronger.
• Fish and Flax Seeds – These foods are full of omega-3 fatty acids, which are nutrients that are anti-inflammatory. Any kind of food that reduces inflammation can protect you from periodontal disease.
• Cocoa – Cocoa is another food that can reduce inflammation. It also protects your teeth from decay and enamel erosion.

Has Smoking Lead to Tooth Discoloration?

If you smoke, then you most likely have stained teeth. Continue reading to find out more about how you can treat this problem.

How Cigarettes Lead to Discolored Teeth

One of the leading causes of stained teeth is tobacco use. If you want to keep your smile as white as possible, you need to avoid smoking and using tobacco in any of its forms. Tobacco is bad for your overall health. It also harms your smile by leading to tooth discoloration and gum disease.

Tips to Get Rid of Tooth Discoloration from Smoking

While most people are aware of how smoking negatively impacts their health, many aren’t ready to rid themselves of the habit. If this is you, here are some tips that can help you reduce the severity of your stained teeth:

• Have your teeth cleaned by a dental professional a minimum of twice a year.
• Prevent plaque from building up on your teeth by brushing, flossing, and using an antibacterial mouthwash.
• Brush your teeth whenever you eat or smoke cigarettes. This helps to lessen the discoloration.
• Nourish yourself by eating a balanced diet.

It’s Possible to Whiten Your Smile

If you smoke, you’ve probably resigned yourself to the fact that you will have to live with your stained teeth. However, there are a variety of teeth whitening treatment options that can address nearly every level of discoloration and staining. It’s important to note that the stains will most likely come back if you continue to smoke after your whitening treatment. Speak with your dentist about the below teeth whitening options:

• Over-the-counter whitening toothpastes are able to improve staining and prevent future stains from setting it. These toothpastes may make your teeth more sensitive.
• At-home whitening treatments are able to lessen minor stains but can also lead to sensitive teeth.
• Professional tooth whitening performed by your dentist. This leads to the fastest and most dramatic results.

How You Can Prevent Stained Teeth

There are things that you can do to prevent your teeth from becoming stained or discolored. Follow these tips to keep your stains from setting in and becoming a problem:

• Establish an excellent oral hygiene routine at home that includes brushing, flossing, and rinsing your mouth out with an antibacterial mouth rinse each and every day, as instructed by your dentist.
• Brush your teeth after consuming meals and snacks.
• Rinse out your mouth with water whenever you drink dark-colored beverages.
• Don’t put off receiving necessary dental treatments, as this can lead to tooth discoloration.
• Receive professional cleanings from your dentist on a consistent basis.

Tactics that Tackle Tooth Discoloration

If you’ve been suffering from stained or discolored teeth, it’s time to seek out treatment. There are a number of options available for you to choose from. The most popular teeth whitening treatments include:

• Professional tooth whitening at your dentist’s office. This will give you the best, fastest and most dramatic results.
• At-home whitening kits that you receive from your dentist. These are strong enough to remove most stains, however they take longer to achieve your desired results than in-office treatments do.
• Over-the-counter whitening kits that you purchase from the store. These don’t whiten the teeth as quickly as the professional kits from your dentist’s office do.
• Tooth whitening toothpastes are able to eliminate lighter stains.
• Dental crowns or veneers are used in instances when a patient has stains or discoloration that can’t be treated via whitening products.

Talk to your dentist to discover which option is the best one for you.