Want a Bright Smile? Avoid These 6 Habits That Stain Teeth

Everybody wants to have pearly white teeth. But if your smile isn’t as bright as you’d like, there are a couple of habits that might be causing the discolouration of your teeth.

You can always go to the dentist for help with teeth whitening, but if you don't avoid the following habits, your teeth will eventually go back to being stained like before.

1. Smoking

Smoking is bad for your health and the people around you. Tobacco is also a major teeth staining ingredient as the nicotine and tar it contains causes yellowing in the teeth. Smoking also increases your risk of developing gum disease and oral cancer, so the earlier you quit, the better.

2. Eating teeth-staining foods

Rich- or deep-hued foods not only stain your hands but can also stain your teeth. These include beetroot, berries (blueberries, strawberries, pomegranates, blackberries, tomatoes, etc.), and artificially coloured products like fruit juices, lollipops and gum. Certain sauces like curries, soy sauce and even tomato-based sauces can stain teeth, too.

3. Drinking teeth-staining beverages

Acidic drinks and condiments (e.g., balsamic vinegar) can wear away the tooth enamel, thereby exposing the yellow colour of the dentin underneath. Sometimes, acidic substances that you ingest are also teeth-staining, so the discolouration effect is worse, as in the case of drinking coffee, tea, red wine, cola and dark fruit juices.

4. Inadequate water intake

If you don’t drink enough water, especially after a meal or snack, food or drink residue will remain in your mouth, leading to the formation of acids. The same thing happens when you consume sugary foods and don’t drink enough water afterwards. As the bacteria in your mouth try to break the sugar down, they produce acids that destroy the enamel and cause tooth decay. To avoid this, drink water throughout the day.

5. Keeping food in your mouth for too long

Sometimes it’s pleasurable to let certain food or drinks linger in your mouth — just so you can savour the flavours or taste. However, doing this habitually can expose your teeth longer to staining substances. Therefore, it’s best to eat and chew properly and then swallow food (or beverages) as you normally would.

6. Poor dental habits

Everyone knows about the need to brush twice daily using fluoride toothpaste. Therefore, no matter how busy, tired or sleepy you are, never skip one brushing session — especially at night time.

Leaving your brushing for the next day will lead not only to plaque formation but also to the development of tartar, which will stain your teeth. So, make sure you maintain your daily oral hygiene routine.

Also, schedule visits to your dentist at least twice a year. Aside from providing professional dental care, your dentist can give you advice on teeth whitening procedures or products that produce long-term results, so you’ll always have a bright, healthy smile.