Yellow teeth can be unsightly and cause self-esteem problems. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid stained teeth to keep our pearly whites as white as possible.
Here’s how you can prevent tooth stains before they occur:
#1 Limit your coffee and tea intake
Coffee and tea are major contributors to yellow teeth more than you may know. Sports drinks, alcohol, soda, citrus, acidic foods and beverages, and sweets are also contributors.
Be sure that after consuming anything acidic to wait at least a half hour before brushing your teeth. After this waiting period, be sure to brush thoroughly as usual.
#2 Choose to drink through a straw
If you must drink a stain-causing beverage, it’s best to drink through a straw if possible. This will keep the beverage off of your teeth as much as possible, thus, reduce the chances of stained teeth in the future.
Likewise, ensuring citrus and other acidic foods don’t sit for long periods in the mouth or on the teeth is also important. Everything in moderation, of course.
#3 Whitening your teeth if you begin to notice yellow teeth
Minor tooth discoloration is not uncommon, as we all know. However, letting discoloration slide while keeping the same bad habits will only lead to stained teeth in the near future.
You can opt for home tooth-whitening products or professional tooth-whitening services at a dentist. This will ensure your teeth will be whiter and stain-free for longer. However, it’s also vital that one consistently conforms to caring for their teeth with the aim to keep their teeth white in the future.
#4 Don’t neglect your pearly whites
Brushing your teeth once a day or “forgetting” to care for your teeth every now and then are bad habits that will increase one’s chances of having stained teeth. For the cleanest, whitest teeth possible, twice-a-day toothbrushing must be in order in addition to flossing and rinsing with mouthwash. You can’t expect to have white, stain-free teeth without properly caring for your teeth in the first place.
#5 Continue attending your bi-annual dental visits
Another important aspect of obtaining stain-free teeth is to receive the proper, professional dental care your pearly whites require. If discoloration or stains are beginning to form, your dentist or hygienist can usually clean these away or offer tooth-whitening services to renew the beauty of your teeth.
As mentioned, it’s not uncommon to suffer from yellow teeth, but because a little discoloration can turn into stained teeth eventually, it’s important to get your teeth cleaned.