How to Avoid Stained Teeth

We want everyone in Carmel, IN to have the brightest, whitest smile possible. In our practice, we offer professional, in-office teeth whitening and teeth bleaching to those who are interested in getting the shine back in their smile! However, we think it’s important that we also let our patients (and the public) know that there are a few things you can do to either avoid further staining, or get the very most out of a whitening treatment.

What Causes Teeth to Become Stained? 

Your teeth are white; well, they’re supposed to be, anyway. What happened to the dazzling white smile you used to have? It’s a fact of life that your teeth will lose their gleam. So many things can contribute to teeth stains, it’s nearly impossible to avoid it.

Most people are aware of the “usual suspects” of tooth staining: Coffee, tea, red wine, and smoking are often the culprits behind a smile that has lost its sparkle. You could try to completely abstain from all these things, but it’s not very likely. With the exception of smoking, all those things have been shown to have powerful health benefits. We don’t want you to throw the baby out with the bath water!

In fact, it’s worth mentioning that most of the things that cause the most serious stains are actually very healthy for you. Some even qualify as “superfoods”, because they provide health benefits in addition to nutrition.

There are two things that cause teeth to become stained: pigment molecules and acidity. That means a lot of the fruits that you eat, especially those that are very juicy, can contribute to heavy staining of the teeth. That means blueberries, cherries, blackberries, and raspberries aren’t only giving you the important vitamins and antioxidants you need, they’re also leaving stains on your teeth and dimming your smile!

Looking at your teeth, you’d think that they have more or less smooth and featureless surfaces. Under a microscope though, it’s an entirely different story. Your teeth are covered with tiny holes. Stains happen when pigment molecules get stuck in those holes. Highly acidic foods (like fruit and fruit juices) can wear away your enamel. The acid in these foods can also cause your teeth to soften, which makes those little holes even more sticky to pigment molecules. Eventually, your teeth will begin to look less and less white, until you do something about it.

What Can I Do to Prevent Staining? 

Whether you’d just like to avoid stains on your teeth, or if you’d like to extend the “life” of a whitening treatment (no whitening treatment is permanent), here are a few things you can do to reduce staining on your teeth:

One: Follow this rule: if it will stain a white shirt, it will stain your teeth. You should feel free to eat what you want, just keep this in mind so that when you’re done eating, you can take some simple steps to avoid staining.

Two: Swallow stain-causing food quickly. Chew thoroughly, but make sure that once you can swallow, you do so quickly. That will give the pigment molecules and acid less time to accumulate on your teeth.

Three: If you can’t brush your teeth (or if you just don’t want to carry around a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash with you everywhere), simply swishing and rinsing your teeth with water may be help keep stains from forming. Remember when you get home to follow a rigorous oral hygiene routine: Brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash at least TWICE A DAY.  Don’t forget to see your dentist at least twice a year, as well!

Four: This really only applies to beverages, but always use a straw. A straw will keep the pigment and acids from coming into contact with your teeth at all!

Teeth Whitening at Really Smile!

Really Smile can provide advanced teeth whitening and bleaching treatments to get your smile back to its original, natural, and healthy white color. We use powerful whitening gels in combination with custom-made-for-your-mouth whitening trays to ensure that the treatment is as effective as possible.

Don’t be fooled by over-the-counter or do-it-yourself whitening kits! You simply won’t get the same value as an in-office treatment from a professional dentist, nor will you be able to benefit from your dentist’s expertise, experience, and gentle touch!

Is Your Smile Not Shining? 

Don’t Delay! Your best, brightest smile is waiting for you at Really Smile.

Call today at 317-597-8748, or make an appointment online.