Can You Avoid Staining Your Teeth? 

Everything from a daily cup of coffee to a nightly glass of red wine can cause tooth discoloration. These every day habits can transform your teeth from a bright, white appearance into a smile you don’t recognize. But there’s no need to worry as your dentist in Rocky Mount has several solutions to how you can avoid and even reverse tooth staining. 

Brush Often

You should always brush your teeth every morning and every night. But there are times when you should try to brush more often. If you eat or drink something that can cause tooth discoloration, such as wine, pasta sauce, coffee, tea, or soft drinks, you should also try to brush your teeth after consuming those treats. In fact, if a staining agent in a beverage or food isn’t removed promptly, the more likely you are to have tooth staining. 

Rinse When You Can’t Brush

We know that it isn’t always likely that you’ll have the ability to brush your teeth after eating or drinking things that may cause tooth discoloration. If this is the case, try your best to rinse your mouth out with water. Water can help neutralize acids that can lead to decay and, in turn, discoloration, and it can also wash away any staining agents from your dinner. 

Use a Whitening Toothpaste

Some people may benefit from using whitening toothpaste. Although whitening toothpaste won’t be appropriate for removing all stains, it may help. If you know you consume a lot of things that can stain your teeth on the surface, using a toothpaste with the ADA Seal of Acceptance can effectively remove surface stains. Kinds of toothpastes with the ADA Seal mean that they have been evaluated for safety and efficacy. 

Consider an Electric Toothbrush

While there is still an ongoing debate about whether or not an electric toothbrush is better than a traditional toothbrush, there is evidence suggesting that using an electric toothbrush may help you brush your teeth more efficiently to remove stains, bacteria, and plaque. If you’re unsure about the best toothbrush, talk with your dentist in Rocky Mount to find the best toothbrush for your teeth. 

Use a Straw

Even though it may seem silly, using a straw can actually reduce tooth staining by simply eliminating how much of the staining ingredients are exposed to teeth. Essentially, a straw helps divert tooth-staining liquids away from teeth as well as limit the amount of time staining liquids have on your teeth. All told, this reduces the likelihood of tooth staining. 

While these tips can help reduce tooth staining, the fact of the matter is nothing will ever completely eliminate it. Over time, our teeth will become dull, even if we follow the above suggestions perfectly. However, your dentist in Rocky Mount has cosmetic dentistry treatments available to help whiten teeth or cover up stains. If you’re looking for ways to get a whiter smile, we welcome you to contact us today. 

About The Author

Dr. Richard Hunt

Dr. Richard Hunt has served as president of the NC Dental Society and the Dental Foundation of NC. He is the director and past chair of the LD Pankey Foundation and former chair of the Dental Assisting National Board. Dr. Hunt regularly teaches at the Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education and the UNC Adams School of Dentistry. An active member of the American Dental Association, he has represented his peers from NC, SC, and VA on the ADA’s Council on Dental Practice.

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