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Healthy teeth

Stained teeth can make you want to avoid smiling, but the right preventive steps and treatments can keep teeth shining brightly. In addition to avoiding tobacco and certain foods and drinks, you can preserve your smile with regular home dental hygiene and professional teeth whitening treatment. Here’s more about what causes tooth stains and how to address the issue.

Stain-Causing Foods and Drinks

Teeth can become severely discolored from a variety of factors. Tobacco use in the form of cigarettes or chew often results in yellow teeth over time. Foods with heavy pigmentation, either natural or artificial, are the biggest culprits. Beverages that may affect your smile include coffee, soft drinks, tea, juice and red wine. Examples of stain-causing foods are berries, sauces and brightly colored candies. Although single exposures to these factors may result in temporary stains, repeated exposure is what usually results in major discoloration.

Methods of Removing Stains at Home

Regular home dental hygiene can help maintain your looks as well as your health. At least once each day, brush your teeth with fluoride-containing toothpaste and a soft-bristled brush approved by the American Dental Association. Use circular motions as you brush to maximize removal of plaque, which can carry stains. Although you can also use an abrasive toothpaste to complement your routine, frequent use of abrasive toothpastes can wear down your enamel and set you up for more stains as well as tooth decay. A variety of teeth whitening products are also available on store shelves for a more focused approach to stains.

Benefits of Professional Whitening

Professional teeth whitening can be more effective than store-bought whitening kits for a number of reasons. First, professional whitening compounds are stronger than what you’ll find in over-the-counter products. Second, professional monitoring helps keep your teeth and gums safe during the whitening process. Finally, results from professional whitening are likely to come more quickly than results from store-bought kits. If you decide you want your teeth to be even whiter after a course of professional whitening, you can simply schedule another course in the future.

Dr. Seaberg and Dr. Onemany offer convenient take-home whitening kits to patients who visit their office in Dayton, Texas. These kits include custom trays and professional-strength whitening gels for fast, effective results. Schedule an appointment today to get the brilliant smile you deserve. www.cardinaldentalgroup.com