The thing that most often embarrasses a person is the state of their smile, and the reason for that is because it's what makes the first impression in any given situation. A smile has the capacity to light up the entire face and make someone’s eye dance. It animates and enlivens and creates the mood between two people or within a group setting.
If you approach someone with stains on your teeth, you are immediately self-aware, uncomfortable, and become awkward because you don’t want to showcase these in a broad display. It makes for an awkward situation rather than exchanging pleasantries and sets the tone for the entire interaction.
A simple gesture, facial characteristic, a feature, can determine how a work scenario or a social gathering will play out because it affects our mood, confidence, and self-esteem. But teeth stain as age progresses and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it - or is there?
The Dilemma Of Teeth Stains
A range of reasons contribute to the discoloration of teeth including the consumption of certain foods and beverages, participating in poor oral hygiene, and some prescriptions are known to be a cause for the reaction. The coloring generally takes place on the surface area or underneath the enamel with some having it in both locations.
Surface stains create a discoloration of the tooth based on changes happening to the materials making up the tooth. There are three primary classifications dentists have determined to categorize stains:
- Extrinsic: This is staining solely on the surface area. Particles of stain which can include “pigmented” residue left from beverages or foods that accumulate in the biofilm covering the enamel. Generally, you will see this with people who smoke tobacco products or those who drink tea or coffee regularly as well as wines or dark sodas.
Stains like these are receptive to checkups with the dentist that include cleanings and good oral hygiene inclusive of teeth brushing with whitening paste.
- Intrinsic: Stains underneath the enamel of the tooth are intrinsic. These take place when the particles work their way through the exterior surface in order to accumulate under the enamel.
An excess of fluoride is a culprit in this type of stain, particularly with kids. These are more challenging to deal with in some cases requiring bleaching with either a professional service or an at-home teeth-whitening kit like those with strips.
- Age: As age progresses, teeth will begin to discolor in a combination of both intrinsic and extrinsic results. Because of the dentin, the tissue beneath the enamel grows yellowed over the course of time.
With age, enamel grows thinner leaving the appearance of the dentin beneath. This discoloration when combined with stains from foods, drinks, and tobacco products makes aged teeth the most discolored.
In order to figure out a solution to the problem, you need to first learn what is leading to the issue. When you know the root cause, you can then work to resolve it.
Prevention is the key. With age, you won’t likely find an answer for your enamel growing thinner. Age merely brings inconvenience. In that particular instance, it might be a good argument for teeth whitening. Click for guidance on whitening teeth naturally.
Is Tooth Whitening The Answer To Removing Stains?
People’s immediate response, when faced with a problem, is to take the most straightforward approach to resolve the issue. As far as how to remove stains from teeth, most people turn to teeth whitening. But is this a permanent solution or a temporary answer to an ongoing issue?
You can participate in dental cleanings every six months to a year on the dot. You can brush and floss regularly, as you should. But you will still see discoloration if you engage in smoking incessantly or if you drink 2 extra-large lattes each morning followed by tea in the afternoon and red wine in the evening.
Even if you decide to stop all of these things “cold turkey” after you have the whitening process professionally done with your dentist, the enamel can be removed during the procedure, creating tooth sensitivity and the yellowing from the dentin due to the absent enamel. But that is merely one technique.
You can also participate in home remedies as a means of creating whiter teeth. The choice is yours as to which you believe will keep your teeth at their healthiest and produce the most effective result.
At-Home Methods For Removing Stains From Teeth
Making Yellowed teeth white again can create an expense for which many aren’t financially prepared. They also pose a hindrance as far as self-esteem and self-confidence for many people.
But there are alternative options for getting a nice white smile for those who are budget-conscious, and these are all-natural with no chemicals and can be done in the comfort of your home. Go here https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321480 for tips on brown stain removal.
- Baking Soda Wash: This compound notes to have natural properties for teeth whitening and can be found as a primary ingredient in major brands of tubes of toothpaste. The idea is to scrub over the tooth’s surface in gentle motions with an eventual considerable difference.
It doesn’t happen overnight, but rather after a few weeks of continuous use. The soda is a preventative for bacteria developing, and the suggestion is that in reducing the bad bacteria, it can then help to reduce the staining.
- Fruits / Vegetables: A diet rich in fruit notes to be healthy not only for the teeth but the body in general. You won’t find a specific diet listed to whiten teeth, but chewing on vegetables and fruits is suggested as an option for this task.
Two specific fruits noted to be beneficial with whitening are strawberries and pineapples. Baking soda and strawberries are a known natural remedy for stains on teeth that celebrities have adopted. The finish is a white, glossy sheen.
- Intake Of Sugar: For those who consume a variety of berries, sodas, wines, and sugary pigmented substances these produce dull, stained teeth, but it’s not necessary to wholly refrain from these substances altogether. It is a good idea to indulge less frequently.
Another major contributor to discoloration is tobacco products. If your primary concern is to have whiter teeth and you have a desire to improve your wellness, this is a great reason to give up this harmful habit entirely.
Not only is it a surefire way to destroy a smile, but it can also destroy the lungs at the same time. It’s wise to take a proactive approach to your overall health under the guise that you’re whitening your smile.
- Calcium Additives: Generally, when you see discoloration on a tooth, it is due to the enamel thinning away and exposing the dentin underneath the surface. The dentin is a yellowish-brownish color that shows through when the enamel is worn. If you indulge in foods that are rich in calcium like milk and cheeses, these will strengthen the enamel.
- Oral Hygiene: If you engage in your annual dental checkups, your dentist will explain to you how essential regular oral hygiene is for the health of your teeth and gums. This entails brushing and flossing each day, two times a day, to prevent disease and kill bacteria. If you don’t brush and floss, there can be an accumulation of plaque that develops a hard covering over the enamel.
When it comes time to remove this substance, the enamel might be removed at the same time, leaving the tooth sensitive and subject to discoloration resulting from the color of the dentin below the surface.
- Hydrogen Peroxide: This liquid is considered to be a natural bleaching agent responsible for eradicating bad bacteria in the mouth, but it has been used for a number of “healing” purposes as well, including wound disinfection because of the capacity to kill the bacteria.
A large majority of kinds of toothpaste with whitening elements list this as a primary ingredient. It is also a component of many mouthwash brands.
- Oil Pulling: Oil pulling is rooted in “Indian soil” said to enhance oral hygiene and eliminate harsh toxins from the body. It involves a simplistic method of applying oil over the teeth, which are said to remove yellow plaque from around the teeth.
Originally, sunflower oil was used by Indians, but coconut oil will provide faster results for whiteners with a timeframe of approximately 20 minutes to remove bad bacteria each day.
- Turmeric: It takes a teaspoon of the powder with a small bit of water to make a paste that you brush with for no less than 2 minutes. This power notes as having medicinal properties and can remove surface discoloration, leaving whiter surfaces.
There are a number of home remedies that you can implement to help with the process of removing staining from your teeth. These are merely a few of them. Once you achieve the results that you hope to accomplish, it’s going to be a matter of maintaining the effect, which will entail limiting your intake of stain-inducing products.
It can be a challenge for some people who might not be able to go without their morning coffee or someone who is genuinely addicted to nicotine. But to keep your smile bright and white, these things need to be strictly limited.
One thing you don’t have control over is the enamel continuing to thin as you age and the dentin progressively making a more significant appearance. The only way to counteract this progression is to indulge in as many calcium-rich foods or perhaps take calcium supplements to strengthen the enamel.
Stains can be disheartening, discouraging, and decrease confidence, but you can counteract them with home remedies and preventative measures. And don’t forget to visit your dentist regularly.