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5 habits that may stain the teeth

Learn five everyday habits that may stain your teeth, including drinking tea or coffee, smoking or chewing tobacco, and poor dental hygiene.

Having stained teeth can significantly affect confidence. However, most fail to realize that it is the small habits that can cause a long-lasting effect on the teeth.

Here are five everyday habits that may stain your teeth:

1. Drinking tea or coffee: Coffee and tea consists of an acidic substance called chromogen that can stain your teeth. More than coffee, tea can stain your teeth to a greater extent because it has tannins and is highly acidic. Consuming more than three cups of coffee or tea in a day can result in stained teeth.
2. Smoking or chewing tobacco: Tobacco can stain teeth because it consists of nicotine and tar. Nicotine turns the teeth yellow in the presence of oxygen, whereas tar is naturally dark. Chewing or smoking tobacco can stain the teeth and make them look unappealing.
3. Poor dental hygiene: Not brushing or flossing your teeth frequently can cause the build-up of plaque and food stains. People who skip dental cleanings can have stained teeth.
4. Excessive use of toothpaste, rinses, and fluoride applications: Excessive use of fluoride-containing substances during tooth formation can cause fluorosis, resulting in the formation of white spots on the teeth. Fluoride could be highly prevalent in some water.
5. Consuming certain foods or beverages: Apart from coffee or tea, several other foods and drinks can stain the teeth, such as
   • Red wine
   • Berries and fruit juices
   • Dark cola
   • Energy and sports drinks
   • Tomato-based sauces
   • Soy sauce and balsamic vinegar
   • Sweets and candy

What are other causes of stained teeth?

3 major reasons for teeth staining

1. Extrinsic factors: Caused by substances that meet the teeth.
2. Intrinsic factors: Caused by something present inside the teeth.
3. Age-related: Caused by older age and occurs later in life.

7 causes that can lead to teeth staining

1. Disease: Tooth discoloration may be caused by
   • Diseases affecting enamel and dentin can lead to tooth discoloration.
   • Treatments associated with certain conditions can result in tooth discoloration. For example, head and neck radiation or chemotherapy can stain the teeth.
   • The use of antibiotics, tetracycline, in pregnant mothers can lead to stained teeth in babies by impacting their enamel development.
2. Medications: Medications that can result in stained teeth include
   • Antibiotics, such as tetracycline and doxycycline, when administered to children younger than eight years, are known to cause stained teeth
   • Mouth rinses and washes consisting of chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride can stain teeth
   • Other drugs causing teeth staining include
     • Antihistamines, such as Benadryl
     • Antipsychotic drugs
     • Antihypertensives
3. Dental materials: Dental materials, such as amalgam restorations, especially silver sulfide-containing materials, can cast a gray-black color on teeth.
4. Aging: Aging can result in the wearing of the outer layer of enamel, revealing the natural color of dentin.
5. Genetics: Some people may have genes that cause them to have naturally brighter and thicker enamel than others.
6. Trauma: Young children experiencing a fall can experience disturbed tooth formation. Trauma can discolor adult teeth.
7. Calcium deficiency: Calcium deficiency can cause discoloration.

What causes tooth decay?
See Answer

7 ways to whiten my stained teeth

1. Avoid or limit stain-causing food and beverages to prevent teeth staining
2. Apply over-the-counter whiteners, such as stick-on strips or tooth-shaped trays
3. Regular cleaning of teeth using toothbrush and floss
4. The whitening procedure can speed up the whitening process and is done by professionals
   • Some whitening procedures include:
     • Dental bonding: White resin is applied to the tooth and hardened with a special curing light.
     • Dental crowns: It protects, covers, and restores damaged teeth and can whiten your smile.
     • Dental veneers: These are porcelain shells that cover the tooth front and improve the teeth’s color and shape of the smile.
5. Rinse your mouth with water after drinks, such as juice, lemonade, coffee, or red wine
6. Quit smoking to prevent tobacco stains
7. Get regular dental check-ups and cleanings every six months