The truth about tooth staining

My thanks to our Dental Therapist Laura Woosey for her third guest blog posts for us.

Teeth can stain or discolour for a number of reasons, some of which can be prevented.

1.       Adequate dental hygiene, brush regularly, ideally twice a day with either a manual or electric toothbrush.  Electric toothbrushes have been clinically proven to be more effective than manual toothbrushes in removing plaque, stain and foot that build up between the teeth.

2.       Food and Drink:  Your diet has a huge impact on staining of teeth.  Frequent consumption of chromogenic (coloured) food and drink will produce staining over a period of time depending on the amount consumed. For example: tea, coffee, red wine, curry, and tomato rich sauce.

3.       Smoking:  People who smoke generally build up more stain than people who don’t.  Likewise heavier smokers will build up more stain than social smokers.  The nicotine causes this from the cigarettes smoke sitting on the teeth.  Similarly chewing tobacco or beetlenut will also cause staining.

Top tips on how to prevent stain build up:

1.       Brush your teeth twice a day with an electric toothbrush for at least 2 minutes.

2.       Floss between your teeth daily.

3.       Try to rinse with water or Fluoride mouthwash after eating or drinking.

4.       Consider quitting smoking/chewing tobacco or beetlenut not only to prevent staining but also for the benefit of your general health.

5.       Avoid frequent consumption of black tea, coffee and red wine.

6.       Add milk to your tea and coffee.

7.       A whitening or abrasive toothpaste may be used to prevent staining but it is not a long-term solution.

8.       Visit your hygienist every 3 months for professional cleaning and stain removal.

If you have dark or stained teeth, please do contact us to book for an assessment.