How to avoid stained teeth
20th February 2012
Yellowed or discoloured teeth are a common complaint addressed by cosmetic dentistry specialists in the UK, but there are measures you can take to prevent staining occurring in the first place.
Stained teeth will not only affect your appearance and can leave you feeling self-conscious, but they could also be a symptom of dental problems such as the build-up of tartar and plaque or tooth decay.
Therefore, to tackle the issues of discoloration the first step is to address your oral hygiene. As with all dental issues, the worst cases can be avoided by ensuring that you have a good dental routine in place including brushing, flossing and regular trips to the dentist.
Secondly, it is a good idea to take a look at your lifestyle. Once of the worst culprits for discoloured teeth is smoking so if you want to polish up your pearly whites it may be a good idea to cut back on the cigarettes.
There are also a number of foods and drinks which can cause surface stains, including red wine, tea and coffee, certain carbonated drinks and blackcurrant. Although most of these stains can be removed through regular cleaning, some of the more persistent stains can be a little tougher to budge and will leave discoloration.
While there is no need to give up these foods and drinks altogether, cutting back on some of the worst offenders such as tea and coffee can help reduce the build-up of stains.
It is also essential that you clean your teeth regularly and thoroughly with tartar control toothpastes containing active ingredients such as fluoride, and visit your dentist if a more thorough clean is required.
Finally, natural tooth colour does vary from person to person and sometimes greying or yellowed teeth can just be an inevitable part of the aging process.
Fortunately, even if you have suffered from stained teeth for a number of years, there are a number of cosmetic dentistry treatments including tooth whitening that can polish up your teeth for a confident smile.
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