7 Habits You Have At Home That Can Stain Your Teeth
One of the reasons that dentists will never run short of patients is the fact that so many people have bad habits that invariably harm their oral health and in particular, stains their teeth, all of which could result in the need for dental implants. What compounds this problem is that most of these harmful habits take place at home which is where everyone spends the majority of their time.
Another issue that arises from these bad habits is that many of them are not just harmful to oral health by staining teeth, but are also harmful to one’s overall health. It is also true that whilst they can all take place at home, the fact that you can also do some of them in other scenarios such as at work or when out having fun, adds to the time that they have to stain teeth.
No doubt you could probably guess at one or two of the habits in question, but there are also one or two which may surprise you. As you read through the seven bad habits below, be honest about whether or not you are guilty of any of them. Even if it is just occasionally, ask yourself if they are worth it, given the staining and discolouration to your teeth that can occur.
Not Brushing Teeth Regularly: Any stains which are on the surface of your teeth will be retained if dental plaque is allowed to build up on top of them. That is why if you do not brush your teeth regularly at home, stains will grow and become permanent.
Smoking: If you are a smoker then it is guaranteed that you have been given countless reasons to stop, and unsurprisingly here is another one. Tobacco is proven to stain teeth, and if that was not enough, it is also a prime cause of gum disease and oral cancer.
Keeping Food And Drink In Your Mouth: This is a habit you may not be consciously aware you are doing. It is keeping food and drink in your mouth for longer than is necessary before swallowing them. Certainly savour flavours and textures but do not hold food and drink in your mouth as this can cause teeth staining.
Not Drinking Enough Water: There are lots of health reasons for drinking copious amounts of water, and another to add to the list is that it washes away any lingering food and drink from the surfaces of your teeth and thus reduces the opportunity for them to stain your teeth.
Drinking Beverages With High Acidity Levels: It is all too common for families to sit around the TV to watch a movie with mum and dad with a glass of wine each and the kids all having a fizzy drink. Unfortunately, the high acidity levels in these drinks is a significant cause of cstains so either reduce the amounts your family consumes, or brush teeth after drinking them.
Eating Too Many Foods That Are Known To Stain Teeth: This can be a bit of a catch 22 as some foods that are generally healthy for you are also known to stain teeth. Examples include fruits such as berries. Again, moderation is needed, and brushing after a meal is effective at stopping these foods from staining teeth.
Drinking Beverages Known For Staining Teeth: You probably know the prime culprits here, such as coffee, tea, and red wine. At the risk of repeating ourselves, limit the amount of these teeth-staining drinks you consume and follow them with a drink of water.