A big, happy smile can make a room feel better. But spots on your teeth that you do not want can make you feel bad about yourself. There are skilled teeth-whitening methods available, but what you eat and drink, as well as the things you do every day, are much more important for keeping your teeth white.
Let us look at some surprising ways that what you eat and how you live can affect tooth discoloration. It is also important to talk to an experienced LA dentist if you want to get your teeth whitened by a professional.
Food and drinks that stain your teeth
Think of your teeth as a blank canvas. There are foods and drinks that leave marks on your teeth that you do not want them to. The main people to blame are:
Foods with dark colors
Strong-colored foods and drinks, like blueberries and pomegranates, and sauces, like soy sauce and balsamic vinegar, can stain your teeth. Because these foods have colors in them, they can stick to your teeth and stain them.
Tannins
These chemicals are found naturally in coffee, tea (especially black tea), and red wine. They love to stick to your teeth and give them a dark color. It is acidic and can weaken your tooth enamel, which makes it easier for spots to stick to your teeth.
Foods that are acidic
Acidic foods and drinks, like pop, citrus fruits, and even sports drinks, can wear down your tooth enamel. Because your enamel is not as strong, other things can damage your teeth more easily. Acidic foods can also wear away the enamel on your teeth, making them more likely to get stained.
Habits that can darken your teeth
Not just what you eat can damage your teeth; some habits can also make them worse:
Tobacco
Tar and nicotine, which are found in cigarettes and other tobacco products, color teeth in a way that is hard to remove. Also, smoking hurts the enamel on your teeth, which makes them more weak and easy to color.
Medications that cause stains
As a side effect, some medicines, like some drugs, can change the color of your skin. Do not be afraid to talk to your doctor. Some medicines can change the color of your teeth by affecting your saliva and teeth.
Lack of oral hygiene
Plaque and bits of food that can color teeth can be removed by cleaning and brushing twice a day. If you skip these steps, spots will start to form. Plaque is a film that sticks to your teeth and has germs in it. Plaque can harden into tartar over time. A tartar is a rough, open surface that stains can easily stick to.
How can you prevent stains?
To keep your smile bright and free of spots, drink and eat less, rinse your mouth out with water after eating or drinking, and use a straw to drink. Brush your teeth after every meal and snack to get rid of germs and food bits that could stain your teeth.
Every day, floss to get rid of bacteria and food stuck between your teeth and to keep your gums healthy. To get rid of surface spots, you might want to use a toothpaste that whitens teeth and has gentle cleaning agents in it. But do not use it if your gums are pulling away from your teeth or if your teeth are sensitive.
Get your teeth cleaned by a doctor every six months to avoid gum disease and losing teeth. Your doctor can get rid of a spot for you if you can not do it yourself.
Being aware of what you eat and how you behave can greatly lower your chances of getting stains on your teeth and keep your smile bright. Please do not be afraid to talk to your doctor about how to keep your teeth healthy and get a beautiful smile.
