HOW TO PREVENT STAINING OF THE TEETH

You might have noticed stained teeth after eating certain foods or tooth discoloration that seems to stay forever. Stained teeth are quite common, and various factors can lead to teeth stains. Let’s learn about the causes of stained teeth, how to prevent teeth stains, and treatment options.

Why do teeth get discolored or stained?

Teeth staining and discoloration can have various causes. The primary reasons for stained teeth can be categorized into the following:

Extrinsic factors: These include factors that affect the tooth's surface or enamel. External factors include the products you eat, drink, or smoke, such as food, beverages, and tobacco.

• Foods: Tea, coffee, red wine, red sauces, and chocolate are among the major culprits behind tooth staining. Additionally, diets high in sugar can cause the yellowing of teeth. Iron syrups, blackberries, and blueberries can lead to blackish teeth.
• Tobacco use: Chewing tobacco or smoking is also a major cause of discolored or darkened teeth. Smokers always have a high prevalence of stained teeth compared to non-smokers.
• Intrinsic factors: These factors lead to changes within the teeth, causing discoloration. Intrinsic factors usually lead to the greying of teeth and include:
• Medications: Antibiotics, especially tetracycline, can lead to teeth discoloration. Antihistamines and mouthwashes can also cause stained teeth.
• Tooth injury: Trauma or injury to the teeth can result in fracture or damage, thus affecting the enamel formation. Eventually, this leads to discolored teeth
• Hereditary factors: A few tooth-related disorders that run in the family can lead to stained teeth.
• High fluoride levels: High fluoride content can lead to teeth discoloration. People staying in areas where excess fluoride is present in their drinking water or using toothpaste with high fluoride levels are more prone to this factor.
• Diseases: Some medical conditions, the use of radiotherapy, and infections in pregnancy can lead to discolored teeth.
• Poor dental hygiene and teeth decay: Poor oral hygiene and not brushing properly or using floss can lead to the build-up of plaque. This allows bacteria to grow and cause tooth decay and associated discoloration.
• Age-related discoloration: Aging is one of the important causes of teeth stains. As you age, the enamel starts to wear off, and the yellowish part underneath becomes more prominent. Also, teeth become more brittle with aging, increasing the risk of injuries and stained teeth.

How common are discolored or stained teeth?

Although it is difficult to estimate the exact percentage of people that have stained teeth, discoloration is common among all age groups. Age, the choice of food products, the use of medications, and poor oral hygiene are all prevalent causes. However, there has been a continuous increase in the demand for oral hygiene products, including teeth whiteners, toothpaste, and mouthwashes. This shows that the majority of people care about keeping a healthy white smile.

What treatment options are available to whiten teeth?

Treatment options vary depending on the age, type of stain, number of teeth affected, and history of dental procedures. Broadly, the teeth whitening options are classified as follows:

• Over-the-counter (OTC) products: Various whitening toothpaste and whitening strips are accessible in drugstores. They may remove surface-level stains or make them fade away but are not very useful for intrinsic stains.
• At-home treatments: Your dentist could make customized dental trays that you need to wear around 1 hour daily for a few weeks. You must also apply a gel before wearing the trays to achieve the desired results. Additionally, you should avoid foods that cause staining and maintain proper oral hygiene.
• In-office treatments: This treatment method is pretty quick and more effective than the other methods. The dentist will use concentrated hydrogen peroxide to whiten the teeth. In addition, dental veneers (customized shells), dental crowns, and dental bonding can be used to restore tooth color.

When should you see a dentist for stained teeth?

You should see the dentist in the following scenarios:

• You see sudden unexplained tooth discoloration that is resistant to OTC teeth whiteners.
• You notice that only one tooth is discolored. It could be from an underlying cavity or injury and must therefore be checked by your dentist immediately. 
• Your teeth develop stains after using certain medications.

Does natural tooth whitening that you can do at home really work—and is it safe?

When researching how to prevent yellow teeth, you may come across natural tooth whitening methods that you can perform at home. These remedies include using ingredients like baking soda, mustard oil, coconut oil, hydrogen peroxide, turmeric, citrus fruits, etc. in various combinations to bleach your teeth.

These natural remedies are said to remove bacteria from your mouth. However, there are no established studies to prove their efficacy. Although baking soda and hydrogen peroxide can help to some extent, using such crude products in disproportionate ratios can cause more harm than good. The safety of these home remedies remains a concern and can cause the following:

• In case of teeth cracks and cavities, home remedies for teeth stains could lead to inflammation and associated infections.
• The acidic nature of citrus fruits and baking soda can accentuate tooth decay. This can make teeth brittle and prone to discoloration.

Ways to prevent and reduce tooth stains

Patients often ask dentists how to reduce yellow teeth. Well, you can follow some handy tips to prevent tooth stains and reduce their prominence. Include the following in your habits:

Brush twice daily with whitening toothpaste and floss at least once daily, Quit smoking, Cut down the intake of tea, coffee, or chocolate. If you can’t resist, rinse your mouth with water afterward.

Seek dental care if you notice any unexplained tooth decay or discoloration.

Final words

Now that you know the science behind teeth discoloration, you can avoid foods that cause teeth staining, quit smoking, maintain good oral hygiene, and use teeth whitening pastes and strips. These habits not only prevent tooth decay but also give you a perfect white smile. Shop for these dental care products today and have them delivered at your doorstep.