By Dr. Sahil Singh , Dentistry
It’s time you took the matter seriously if you don’t feel very comfortable flashing a smile fearing that people around might notice that yellowish tint on your teeth. Stained teeth are characterized by presence of colored stains on your teeth. It can be caused due to various reasons ranging from not following a proper dental hygiene to drinking beverages such as tea and coffee.
The various tips that you can use to prevent staining of the teeth are:
- Brushing and flossing help them to ‘shine on’: Make sure you have a proper dental care regimen that involves brushing and flossing. Brush your teeth at least twice a day to keep them clean, also flossing is equally important. Flossing helps in getting rid of the food particles that are stuck in between your teeth.
- Keep off tobacco: Smoking causes stains to form on your teeth because of the presence of harmful chemicals and tar. So, avoid tobacco at all costs and in any form, be it chewing or smoking.
- Don’t sip directly on beverages: Use a straw when you are drinking any carbonated beverages, soda or juice; possibly anything that can contribute to stains to form on your teeth. Using a straw does not allow the liquid to come in contact with your teeth thus saving you the damage.
- Give the dentist a visit, every now and then: Schedule your visits to the dentist; at least thrice a year, even if you do not have any apparent problems. In some cases, the symptoms may not be prominent and thus can lie undetected.
Teeth-Whitening Methods-
Still seeing stains? There are other options. Bleaching can be a good way to brighten your smile.
Teeth-whitening works well if yours have started to turn yellow. If they’re brown it may take longer. Or if they’re gray you may not be able to fix it with bleach.
Talk with your dentist to find out if teeth-whitening is a good idea for you. If so, you can consider one of these options:
- At-Home Whitening Kits: You can buy them at your local drugstore. They might make your teeth become sensitive, but this side effect usually goes away after the bleaching period is over. If your gums get irritated, talk to your dentist.
- Whitening Toothpaste or Mouth Rinse: They can help keep your teeth white and prevent new stains. Follow the instructions on the label. Some people get sensitive teeth if they use whitening toothpastes.
- Professional Tooth Whitening: If you get your teeth bleached at your dentist’s office, it may take one or more visits. He will put a protective gel or rubber shield on your gums and then apply a bleaching agent to your teeth. He can also make a custom-fitted tray that you can use at home with whitening gel.
Remember, taking care of your mouth keeps your smile bright. So eat, drink, be merry — and brush and floss your teeth regularly.