Your smile is often the first thing people notice. If your teeth are discolored, you may feel self-conscious to the point of avoiding social situations! Here are some habits that could be causing your tooth discoloration:
Smoking
Cigarettes contain harmful chemicals like nicotine and tar. Nicotine is clear but turns yellow on your teeth when it mixes with oxygen. Tar is sticky and brown, so it not only stains your teeth but your fingernails too. You shouldn’t smoke or use other tobacco products if you want to avoid tooth discoloration and a host of serious health problems!
Eating Sugary & Acidic Foods
Sugary and acidic foods (like soft drinks, energy drinks, orange juice, and candy) feed the bacteria in your mouth and wear down your enamel. Although enamel is very hard, it’s more vulnerable to stains when it wears down. Dentin, the layer beneath your enamel, is also naturally more yellow and is more noticeable when your enamel thins. You can reduce discoloration by cutting back on sugary and acidic foods.
Drinking Tea, Coffee & Red Wine
Coffee and tea have chemical compounds called tannins. These give coffee and tea their flavor and color, but they also stick to your tooth enamel. Over time, tannins stain your teeth yellow, brown, or even black. If you drink coffee or tea, drink through a straw and rinse well with water afterwards.
Red wine also contains tannins. It is also quite acidic, which weakens your enamel and makes it more vulnerable to stains. Drink your red wine with a straw and rinse your mouth well after drinking. While white wine doesn’t have the same staining pigments as red wine, it’s still acidic.
Poor Brushing & Flossing
When you don’t brush and floss your teeth well or often enough, plaque and tartar build up. These have a yellow or brown color. The more buildup you have, the more stained your teeth look. To prevent plaque and tartar buildup, brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time. Brush your tongue. Floss once a day. also help prevent staining.
Teeth Whitening at Bridge Dental Care in Chattanooga, TN
At Bridge Dental Care, we offer routine cleanings and professional teeth whitening. Both in-office and at-home teeth whitening are more effective than over-the-counter whitening products. Please let us know if you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Modi!