Think before you drink

They may contain antioxidants that fight some diseases, but a glass of red wine, cranberry juice or grape juice stain teeth easily. This does not mean that you should remove them from your diet, but remember to rinse your mouth after consumption.

Foods that stain teeth

There is another reason to take care of what you eat. Dentists declare there is an easy way to determine whether commonly consumed food is candidate for discoloring teeth. Anything can stain a white cotton T-shirt can stain teeth also. Coffee, tea, dark beverage and fruit juices are the most common. The stains gradually grown and become more pronounced as we age.

Do not smoke

Smoking is not only bad for our health but is also one of the worst factors staining teeth. Cigars and cigarettes cause brown stains that are difficult to remove only by brushing. The longer you smoke the more intense are the stains. Smoking also causes bad breath and gum disease and increases the risk for most kinds of cancer.

Homemade solutions for whiter teeth

Some people still prefer the old homemade ” remedies ” of brushing with baking soda for tooth whitening at home. Also, some foods like celery, apples, pears and carrots produce saliva that helps to remove food particles from the teeth.

Chewing gum without sugar is actually a cleaning action for your dentition and also causes the production of saliva. The benefit is that saliva neutralizes acid that causes damage to the teeth. Regarding the teeth, the excess saliva is beneficial.

Whitening toothpaste

How can we remove stains from our teeth? There are toothpastes, gels and liquids in the market to help remove some surface stains. Many of these products contain light abrasives, chemical or other agents that help polishing the teeth.

Medications

Tetracycline is an antibiotic that leads to gray shade of children’s teeth.

Antibacterial mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine or cetylpyridinium chloride substances may also stain teeth. Some antihistamines, antipsychotics and blood pressure drugs, iron and the excessive use of fluorine can also cause stains on teeth.

Do not forget daily care

A simple strategy that can help keeping teeth white is “Brushing”. You need at least two times a day and floss at least once daily. Even better, brush after every meal and snack. Brushing helps prevent stains and yellow teeth.