Teeth Whitening Services in Olathe, KS, Can Brighten Your Smile
You take meticulous care of your teeth and love the way your smile looks – except that your teeth are stained or yellowed. Even the most dedicated tooth-brushing routine can leave your pearly whites looking a little dingy, especially if you frequently consume foods or beverages that stain your teeth.
Keep reading to learn which foods and drinks are responsible for external tooth stains and what you can do to get a more confident smile, including teeth whitening services from your dentist.
Why Are Your Teeth Stained?
Blame your teeth stains on chromogens, tannins, and acids.
- Chromogens are chemical compounds in foods and drinks that give them their dark color.
- Tannins are a family of bitter-tasting compounds found in plant matter, including the kind you consume.
- Acids are present in a variety of foods and drinks and can wear down your teeth.
Simply eating foods and drinking beverages that contain chromogens, tannins, and acids can discolor your teeth. It’s a fact of life for almost everyone in the world. However, you can work to avoid consuming too much of these staining products or address your teeth’s hue with teeth whitening at your dentist’s office or at home.
Foods and Drinks That Cause Teeth Stains
Almost every food we consume in our Western diets are likely to cause dental staining. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most common culprits.
Drinks
These beverages are shown to stain your teeth.
- Tea and coffee. These drinks contain tannins – and even green tea will stain your teeth!
- Red wine stains your teeth due to the deep red hue and tannins present.
- Dark-colored sodas stain your teeth. The acid in them can even wear away your enamel.
- Dark-colored fruit juices – like cranberry or red grape – leave behind stains.
- Sports drinks with added dyes can stain your teeth.
Sauces and Seasonings
These components of your favorite recipes may be responsible for your stained teeth.
- Tomato sauces, such as in pizza and pasta. Tomatoes are a good source of a variety of important nutrients, but their red color and high acidity can cause staining.
- Curry sauces. Turmeric and other dark-hued seasonings in curries from a range of cultures are responsible for stains forming on your teeth.
- Balsamic vinegar makes for delicious dressings, but the deep pigments and acids in it have negative effects on your teeth.
- Soy sauce will stain your teeth, thanks in part to its dark coloring.
Foods
These foods aren’t so great if you want to keep your teeth looking bright white.
- Beets, the purplish-reddish root vegetable, is highly likely to cause stains. Think about the stains beets can leave behind on your clothing or dishware; it’s a no-brainer your teeth may stain, too.
- Dark-colored berries are also likely to leave behind stains, just like beets. In fact, both of these foods are used in creating natural dyes!
- Popsicles that contain dyes can leave stains behind on your teeth.
Teeth Whitening Options
Depending on how dramatic of results you want and how much money you’re willing to spend, you have several teeth whitening services available to you in Olathe, Kansas.
You can use over-the-counter products at home to whiten your teeth, or your dentist offers take-home kits. These products are safe for home use, but require repeated use to achieve results.
Alternatively, dental teeth whitening performed in your dentist’s office is customized to you and can brighten your teeth in as little as one visit.
How Much Does Teeth Whitening Cost?
The cost of teeth whitening services and at-home whitening products varies. Teeth whitening in your dentist’s office will be more expensive than an over-the-counter kit from your local drug store. However, professional dental teeth whitening may be more effective.
The fact is, there are teeth whitening options for almost every budget, so you don’t have to live with yellow or stained teeth if you don’t want to.
Prolong the Effects of Teeth Whitening Services With These Tips
If you opt for teeth whitening at home or from your dentist, follow these tips to help keep your chompers as bright white as possible.
- Minimize the number of foods or drinks you consume that may stain your teeth and opt for alternatives.
- Use a straw to keep dyes and acidity from flowing across your teeth when drinking iced coffee, red wine, or sports drinks.
- Rinse your mouth out after eating or drinking; it’s even better if you can brush your teeth after eating or drinking.
- Eat crunchy fruits and veggies, like apples, celery, and carrots, which encourage saliva production and scrub your teeth with every bite.
Prioritize Healthy Teeth Over Color
Regular dental care and tooth cleanings are far more important than the color of your teeth. In fact, stained teeth can be healthy teeth, as long as you’re taking care of them the right way. Brushing at least twice a day, flossing once a day, and using a mouth rinse can help protect your enamel and remove harmful bacteria from your mouth.
But it’s understandable why you’d still want a confident smile and to be able to show off your bright, white teeth! Ask about dental teeth whitening services and at-home whitening products during your next dentist office visit.