Even with good, mindful preventive dental care habits, it is possible for stains to develop on the surfaces of your teeth. Throughout your daily life, many foods and drinks (even healthy ones) can leave behind particles that can negatively effect the color of your smile. Your routine dental cleaning can help to break up some of these stains, and a professional whitening treatment can help break up more. Even at-home whitening systems and toothpastes can help you get the bright smile you are seeking. However, there are three bad habits that can stain your teeth and get you back in the yellow prematurely. Poor oral hygiene, certain dietary choices, and tobacco products can all contribute to the staining of your teeth.
1. Poor Oral Hygiene
Regularly brushing and flossing can help you remove any staining food and drink particles before they settle onto your enamel affecting your smile’s color. Brushing after every meal can help. Even just remembering to brush in the morning and before you go to sleep can help to keep your smile look bright. Drinking water can also be beneficial, especially to follow staining drinks like coffee, tea, or dark soda.
2. Certain Dietary Choices
Dark foods and beverages can leave behind tannins or chromogens in your smile that lead to discoloration. Along with the shade of your dietary choices, it is also important for you to pay attention to the acidity levels that you consume. Highly acidic foods and drinks can lead to a softening of your enamel, and softer enamel is easier for staining particles to stick to. Softer enamel is also more susceptible to tooth decay.
3. Use of Tobacco Products
Tobacco products can be seriously detrimental to your health, as well as to your appearance. Cigarettes and even smokeless tobacco can both cause your smile to appear yellow and dull. Cigarettes can also cause wrinkles to develop prematurely around your smile.
We Can Help You Reverse the Effects of Bad Habits
A whitening treatment can help to remove stains from the surfaces of your teeth. To learn more, schedule a consultation with your dentist by calling E-Care Dentistry, PA in Olathe, KS, today at 913-210-1701. We also proudly serve patients from Overland Park, Lenexa, Leawood, Gardner, and all surrounding communities.