Common Causes of Teeth Staining and How to Deal With Them

Having a white smile is important to most people. Sometimes, even though we are careful, we still end up with discolored teeth. There are many reasons that teeth can become stained, but if you know the causes and what you can do about them, you have a better chance of keeping your smile bright and white for the long term. While we cannot prevent everything that stains our teeth, there are some things you can avoid, and habits you can get into that can help diminish the amount of staining and keep your teeth whiter for longer.

Common Causes of Staining

We do not always think about it when we stop for that latte, but many things we drink can and do stain our teeth. Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world and one of the most staining. Generally speaking, the thicker and darker a drink is, the more likely it is to stain our teeth. This means things like coffee, tea, and hot chocolate will most likely stain our teeth.

Certain fruits and berries with brightly colored juices can stain teeth. Pomegranates, cherries, blueberries, and others can easily stain teeth and are hard to remove.

Preventing Staining of Your Teeth

Of course, the easiest way to prevent staining is to avoid eating and drinking things that can stain your teeth. However, since teeth become stained naturally over time, it is virtually impossible to avoid staining altogether. Instead, try to limit how much of those certain foods and drinks you have so that you are not constantly having to worry about tooth staining.

It is also important to practice good oral hygiene and take it a step further so that when you eat or drink something that may stain, you take the time to brush and clean your teeth. To maintain a whiter smile, you can also consider switching to whitening toothpaste between your trips to the dentist for professional whitening. Regularly brushing with whitening toothpaste gradually reduces surface discoloration, keeping your teeth whiter for longer.