What Causes Teeth to Stain?

Teeth start off pearly white when we’re small, but as we age, our teeth can become stained. Many adults find this frustrating. Knowing what causes teeth to stain, and what can make them white once again can help you take care of your teeth. The more you know about what causes teeth to become yellow, the more easily you can avoid this problem. Read on to learn more, or talk to your dentist in Reseda, CA.

Staining Foods and Drinks

Many people stain their teeth just by consuming staining foods and drinks. Foods that contribute to teeth yellowing include:

• Coffee
• Tea
• Wine (red and white)
• Beets
• Berries
• Sauces (tomato sauce, soy sauce)
• Lemons and other acidic foods
• Curry
• Balsamic vinegar
• Cola

If you consume a lot of foods in the list above, this is likely contributing to the yellowing of your teeth. You can keep your teeth white and beautiful by avoiding some of these foods (particularly the foods that are not good for you anyway, like cola), or by taking steps to minimize the effect on your teeth. For example, swishing with water after eating can wash away some of the staining agents, so you can keep your teeth whiter for longer.

Personal Habits that Stain Teeth

Some personal habits – especially smoking – can lead to teeth staining. If you don’t brush your teeth twice daily, or if you don’t floss on a regular basis, this too can contribute to your teeth turning yellow. To take good care of your teeth, do the following:

• See the dentist every six months for a cleaning.
• Brush your teeth twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening.
• Floss once daily.
• Stop smoking, if you do smoke.

What You Can Do

Another way that you can keep your teeth as white as possible is to use whitening agents on your teeth. You can buy DIY teeth whitening kits to use in your house, or you can get professional teeth whitening in Reseda CA by visiting your dentist.

Professional teeth whitening services are more effective and longer-lasting than at home whitening. Talk to your dentist to learn more about how teeth whitening works, and if it would be right for you.