Yellow teeth can be embarrassing and can affect your overall confidence. This discoloration of teeth can be caused by smoking, drinking dark-colored beverages, poor dental hygiene, illnesses, and certain medications. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent your teeth from becoming yellow.
Proper Dental Hygiene
Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing regularly can help prevent the yellowing of the teeth and other oral health problems such as cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. Make sure to use fluoride toothpaste for added protection against dental caries. Additionally, using an antibacterial mouthwash after brushing can help reduce bacteria in the mouth, which contributes to plaque buildup and discoloration of the enamel on your teeth.
Rinse with Water After Drinking Staining Beverages
Coffee, tea, red wine, or dark-colored soda are all known culprits for staining your teeth over time; however, drinking them through a straw may limit their contact with your front teeth, where most stains occur from these beverages. It is also important to rinse any remaining residue by swishing water in your mouth immediately afterward. By doing this, the stain particles do not have enough time to settle into porous areas on our enamel surfaces, causing permanent discolorations over time.
Avoid Smoking
Cigarettes contain nicotine which has been proven to cause significant damage internally (such as cancer) and externally, too – including yellowing the surface layer of our pearly whites! The tar in cigarettes will slowly build up upon regular smoking, making removing it even more difficult without professional whitening services at the dentist’s office.
Use Whitening Toothpastes
Specialty brands like Colgate Optic White offer unique ingredients explicitly designed to target deep-set stains caused by coffee and tea. Be aware that these products will only work for a while and require several weeks of consistent applications to see results at desired brightness levels.
Try Natural Remedies
Many natural remedies can help whiten your teeth, such as baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and lemon juice. Baking soda is a mild abrasive that helps remove surface stains, while hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice’s acidic properties break down deeper set discolorations on enamel surfaces. Be sure to use these methods sparingly, as they may cause excessive wear or damage if used too often!
Eat Teeth-Friendly Foods
Eating foods like crunchy fruits & veggies (such as apples and carrots) will help stimulate saliva production in the mouth – this naturally occurring liquid contains minerals necessary for remineralizing our tooth enamels, keeping them strong and healthy over time. Additionally, try avoiding sugary snacks and candies between meals to avoid cavities and other decay-related issues
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Visiting your dentist every six months allows them to keep track of any changes occurring within gum and jawbone structures while being able to catch potential issues early before they become a serious problem down the road. This includes monitoring for signs of excessive wear and tear due to grinding habits or acid reflux, conditions leading further decay.
Conclusion
To maintain good dental health, cut down on sugary and acidic food and drinks, avoid smoking and tobacco use, visit your dentist twice a year, switch to unsweetened teas and coffees, use whitening toothpaste and strips, and try oil pulling.
Are you looking for a dentist and get your teeth professionally whitened? Look no further! Here at Family Dental of Westborough, we provide dental health to our patients. Come and book your online appointment today!