How to Prevent Stained Teeth

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By TheSeeker
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The Toothbrush is Your Friend in the Quest to Prevent Stained Teeth.

This article gives some easy to follow advice on things you can do to prevent stained teeth.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Stained teeth are an embarrassment for many people. There are several reasons teeth can become stained. Food and drink products can stain teeth as well as tobacco. Certain foods and drinks have a higher potential to stain teeth and should be avoided if your having a problem with them. These foods include but are not limited to coffee, tea, sodas, and dark berries. Any food can stain your teeth if you do not properly take care of them. An antibiotic called Tetracycline can cause discoloration of teeth, giving them an uneven appearance. Vitamin supplements can also stain teeth in certain genome types as well. Iron has been known to stain the teeth of children who take the supplement for any length of time. Fluoride consumption should be carefully monitored if not eliminated because just a little to much fluoride can turn your teeth yellow. Fluoride has also been linked to several other health problems recently. Smoking will always stain your teeth and for this and other health reasons should be avoided. Catching a high fever has also been known to stain teeth in certain cases.
Step 2

If your teeth are already stained you should read the sister article I have posted concerning cleaning stained teeth. There are several options you can pursue before visiting a dentist and having a profession cleaning done to clean already stained teeth. There are some simple easy things you can do to prevent your teeth from becoming stained. Brush your teeth at least two times a day within an hour after eating. Regular dentist appointments are an important part of preventing stained teeth as the mirrors and other technology your dentist has will be able to spot problems before you can at home.
Step 3

The most popular way of preventing stained teeth is with a whitening toothpaste. You can find shelves full of whitening toothpastes in your local pharmacy or grocery store. Toothpaste is mainly used for prevention of stained teeth but certain brands I have used did give a notable brightening effect after a couple weeks of regular use. Using a whiting pre-rinse or mouthwash is advisable as well. These contain mild whiting agents that will improve the overall effectiveness of your dental routine. Some whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes work better than others. You should try out different types until you find one that works for you.
Step 4

If you choose not to use a commercial toothpaste, you will find that a combination of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide will clean your teeth very well but may have some side effects including tooth sensitivity and mouth pain. These side effects are usually short lived and mild in most people.
Step 5

Talk to your doctor before taking any medication prescribed to see if the treatment has any chance of staining your teeth. If this is unacceptable then ask your doctor to prescribe something that does not stain your teeth. You may have to live with the chance of getting stained teeth if you must have certain medical treatments and medicine. If your teeth are not as white as you want them to be after one tube of whitening toothpaste you will need to visit your dentist and ask his opinion on what to do next.