A bright, healthy smile can boost your confidence, but not everyone is lucky enough to have naturally white teeth. Teeth staining in Oshawa is a common issue, and it’s useful to know what causes stains on teeth.
Below are some of the reasons why teeth become stained.
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Poor Oral Care
If you fail to brush and floss your teeth regularly, plaque and tartar will build up. Dental plaque is a sticky biofilm containing harmful bacteria, and it hardens into tartar or calculus within a few days.
Tartar is a crusty substance that tends to build up around the gum line and can look yellow or brown.
Ensure you follow a good oral hygiene routine, brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing every day. Regularly removing most dental plaque and tartar protects your smile and your oral health.
Hygiene appointments are also important. When you visit Margolian Dentistry, our excellent hygienists can clean your teeth professionally. After a professional dental cleaning in Ajax, you will notice your teeth look slightly brighter than before and feel super clean and smooth.
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Cavities
Tooth decay in Whitby can cause teeth to develop holes that look brown or black. Additionally, cavities can cause other unpleasant symptoms, such as sensitivity or pain, as the cavities deepen and teeth become more infected.
When you see a dentist regularly, we check for signs of tooth decay and provide prompt treatment at an early stage. Early treatment of cavities helps prevent more significant decay and infection while preserving your smile.
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Smoking
Smoking is well known for causing stains on teeth, and the nicotine can make it easier for dental plaque to adhere to tooth surfaces. Additionally, smoking increases your risk of gum disease.
Ideally, try to quit smoking or otherwise ensure you practice good oral care and come to see us regularly for dental checkups and hygiene appointments.
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Tea, Coffee and Red Wine
Certain beverages, such as tea, coffee, and red wine, can soon stain your pearly whites. These contain tannins that stick to surfaces and can penetrate tooth enamel.
Ideally, after drinking these beverages, rinse your mouth with water to help wash away staining agents.
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Acidic Foods and Drinks
Foods and drinks naturally high in acid can stain your teeth because they erode tooth enamel. Repeated exposure to the acid eventually causes your tooth enamel to become thinner. As it thins, it exposes more of the natural tooth colour in the dentin underneath. Dentin can be yellow, orange, brown or even purple.
After having these items, rinse your mouth with water but wait at least half an hour before brushing your teeth. Because your tooth enamel is softer, brushing your teeth sooner would erode it more easily. Waiting gives the acidity levels in your mouth a chance to normalize, allowing your tooth enamel to re-harden slightly.
Ideally, have these foods and drinks as part of the main meal and avoid them as snacks.
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Aging
Over the years, your tooth enamel naturally becomes thinner due to repeated exposure to acid. This allows the darker colour of dentin to shine through.
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Genetics
Your tooth colour is unique, and some people are simply luckier than others to have whiter teeth.
Concerned about Your Tooth Colour? Ask Us about Teeth Whitening
Talk to our dental team if you are concerned about your tooth colour. We can provide professional teeth whitening services that are highly effective, affordable, and above all, safe.
A dental exam identifies if you are a good candidate for teeth whitening and if your teeth will respond to our professional-strength products. Whiten in our dental office for quick results, or choose a custom home whitening kit that gently and effectively whitens teeth over approximately two weeks.
