Do you look at your smile feeling unhappy and wonder what is hiding inside those pearly whites? Our smile naturally degrades during ageing and it is something that we have to reluctantly accept. Although, this can be prolonged if you look after your smile with strong oral hygiene and regular cleanings at the dentist.
If you’re showing signs of discolouration on your teeth, this doesn’t mean you can’t remove those dark stains on your teeth. Here’s what you can do to make those pearly whites shine.
Avoid Food And Drink Containing Staining Properties
The main culprit of discolouration is the food and drink you consume. Your favourite sodas and hot drinks contain tannins and chromogens, which are well known for causing discolouration and deep staining. Therefore, you need to scale back on the following:
Coffee (including black coffee) And Wine
Both coffee and wine are high in acids which can damage your teeth, enamel and cause discolouration. Both contain tannins that stick to your teeth, meaning your tooth shade slowly changes colour to cause staining. You may consider adding milk or creamers to your coffee, but it is recommended that you avoid it altogether. As for wine, consume moderately but not on a regular occasion.
Tobacco
The nicotine and tar in tobacco can cause dark stains on your teeth by absorbing into the tooth pores to cause a yellow or brown colour. This also goes for electronic cigarettes. It can go even further and cause gum disease.
How Can You Avoid Or Reduce Dark Stains On Your Teeth?
If you’re seeking support with reducing dark stains on your teeth, here’s how:
Check Up And Clean
Regularly visit the dentist for a clean when called. Your smile could be hiding under a dental plaque that’s built up over time. The plaque can be reduced through regular brushing and flossing, but also going to the dentist for a check-up. If the plaque begins to build, it can cause tooth decay.
The dentist would remove the plaque by using a scraping tool, which can help lighten the shade of your teeth.
Teeth Whitening Treatment
The most effective way considered to remove stains on your teeth is through teeth whitening treatment at your local dentist. The treatment involves the dentist placing a rubber dam over your teeth to keep your gums protected. A bleaching agent is then painted onto your teeth with a laser being shone on the teeth to activate the chemical and to help speed the reaction of the whitening product. Read here to learn about the available teeth whitening treatments.
Dental Veneers
If your teeth are suffering from more than just discolouration, you may consider dental veneers, which are custom-made out of porcelain that is fitted across the teeth to cover any dark stains on your teeth. Veneers are also stain-resistant, so you can enjoy your favourite food and drink without worrying about its shade becoming dark. Although, you must continue to perform strong oral hygiene to keep the white shade.
Are you seeking support with dark stains on your teeth? Why not contact us at Simply Dental Chatswood today and our Chatswood Dentist will gladly assess the right options to get your pearly whites shining again!