Are you satisfied with your smile? We hope you are; having a healthy mouth is not only essential for your physical health, but for your self-esteem. All Coast Dental in Pacific Beach is a general dental office that also provides cosmetic care for people of all ages. As people get older, their teeth inevitably accumulate stains and imperfections. But that doesn’t mean anyone is doomed to a smile they’re unhappy with. We provide whitening services in addition to cleaning, but we thought our patients would also appreciate some advice on keeping their teeth shiny for as long as possible.
Most teeth discoloration is caused by extrinsic staining, which means stains on their outsides. Issues such as pulp infections and injuries can cause staining from the inside, but that’s more than a cosmetic problem and requires urgent care. Extrinsic stains are mostly caused by plant tissues called tannins. These pigments are what give red wine, coffee, brown sodas, and soy sauce their dark coloring. When a person consumes sugary drinks such as sodas, they are raising their risk of tannins getting stuck on their teeth, but even prolonged use of coffee or tea can have a discoloring effect on enamel. Smoking or other use of tobacco products can also stain the teeth, along with more serious oral health consequences.
Regular tooth brushing and flossing will reduce the problem of dark substances getting stuck, but you might also want to try chewing sugar-free gum after meals. Drinking lots of water will also clean out the mouth and stimulate saliva production to give teeth a protective coating. If you don’t want to give up caffeinated beverages, you may want to try sipping them through a straw. You might also want to use a professional tray whitening system to give yourself touch-ups when you think you need them, such as prior to an important event.
Drs. Julie and Joseph Boulos operate All Coast Dental at 2180 Garnet Ave, Suite 1-K, Pacific Beach, California, 92109. To schedule an appointment, call 858-270-4904 or visit All Coast Dental and fill out a contact sheet.