How To Get Rid Of Teeth Stains?

Your dentist can help you with many more issues than only the health of your teeth. With professional cosmetic dental services, you can improve your self-esteem by getting a better-looking smile. With whitening and other options, your smile can finally be one that you love showing off to everyone. Find out how to get rid of teeth stains that may make you want to hide your smile.

Why a Bright White Smile Matters

Did you know that close to half of people, 48%, see a smile as the most remembered feature of a person after a first visit? This data comes from a survey from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). The same study found that only 25% of respondents would remember the first thing someone said.

Additionally, the AACD survey discovered that 45% of people viewed the smile as the most attractive feature, regardless of age. Also, a majority of people over 50 years old, 54%, believe that a smile can avoid the damage of aging best.

However, for many people, aging can cause discoloration of the teeth, which can make you look older overall. Keeping a youthful appearance and making an excellent first impression rely on having a great-looking smile. White teeth free of stains look healthier and create a better first impression even before you speak.

Causes of Stains on Teeth

Before you can understand how a dentist removes stains from your teeth, you need to know where they come from. Some stains deposit onto the surface of your enamel. These stains, called extrinsic, typically come from the food and drinks that you consume. Some of the biggest offenders include:

• Red wine
• Berries, especially blueberries
• Coffee
• Tea
• Dark sodas
• Tobacco products

Another cause of tooth stains is tartar, which is the hardened form of plaque. Regular brushing and flossing between meals should remove plaque. Twice-a-year professional dental cleanings can remove any plaque that brushing missed. Dental hygienists can also remove tartar from your teeth during professional cleanings. However, your toothbrush at home cannot get rid of tartar stains from your teeth.

Other types of stains are internal, which come from decay, medications, aging, or trauma. These stains are much more difficult to correct and can affect individual teeth, in cases of trauma or decay, or all your teeth.

Differences Between Internal Discoloration and External Stains

External stains tend to be easier to remove because they impact only the top layer of the teeth. A professional dental cleaning can clear away stains caused by plaque and tartar. For food or drink-related stains, you may need a whitening system.

Intrinsic stains have a deeper origin in the tooth and need different or more intensive whitening. Your dentist will examine your teeth and help you to decide on the right type of whitening to give you a great smile.

How to Get Rid of Teeth Stains from All Your Teeth

You will likely need professional whitening treatment if you have stains across all your teeth. These methods use bleaching agents to clean stains off. The strongest whitening only comes from your dentist. They must apply the bleach correctly to the teeth to reduce side effects of sensitivity or gum irritation. For take-home kits, your dentist needs to make sure that your teeth and gums are healthy enough for whitening.

Dentist whitening ensures that you have a brighter, whiter smile more effectively than anything you can buy over the counter.

How to Get Rid of Teeth Stains from One or Two Teeth

If you have one or two teeth that look stained due to trauma or decay, you may need another form of cosmetic dental service. For individually stained teeth, the dentist will ensure that they do not need additional treatment. If you have a tooth darkened by decay that has yet to receive care, you may need a root canal before your dentist corrects the stain.

Veneers, bonding, and crowns are alternatives to correct the color of individual teeth. These are ideal solutions if the rest of your smile is already the shade of white you want. Remember that if you want to have your teeth whitened in the future, the veneers, bonding, or crowns you have on your teeth will not change color, and you may need to replace them.

How to Prevent Stains on Your Teeth

You can prevent stains from developing on your teeth by examining your lifestyle for teeth-staining causes.

First, if you drink coffee, tea, red wine, or dark sodas regularly, try to drink through a straw. Try to limit your consumption of these drinks with meals. Don’t nurse the drink throughout the day, which exposes your teeth to staining liquid for a longer time than if you only had the beverage at a meal.

Similarly, if you eat staining foods, such as tomato products, blueberries, or chocolate, stick to eating these at one time instead of noshing on them all day long. Rinse and brush after these foods to minimize the time your teeth have exposure to their staining colors.

Enamel wear contributes to aging-related staining. Therefore, you’ll need to be extra careful about what you eat and drink and how you care for your teeth. After meals, rinse your mouth out with water before brushing your teeth. Doing so will rinse acids from coffee, tea, and sodas off your teeth. If you brush without rinsing out your mouth first, you’ll rub the acidic ingredients over your teeth and encourage enamel erosion. Also, use a soft brush and gentle pressure when brushing to avoid enamel wear.

If you have decay in a tooth or trauma, get treatment as soon as possible to minimize the chances of permanent discoloration. Talk to your dentist about veneers, bonding, or a crown after treatment to conceal the stain and give you a white smile.

Connect with Matthews Family Dentistry to Get Rid of Teeth Stains Once and for All

Feel better when you smile by showing off bright, white, healthy-looking teeth. You can get rid of tooth stains with professional whitening help from us at Matthews Family Dentistry. Call us to set up your appointment to find out which whitening option will best work to give you the best-looking smile possible.