Everyone wants a big white, happy smile, but your daily habits could be staining your teeth without you even realising! Have you ever sat down to think about potential causes of teeth discolouration? The first step to preventing dulling of your pearly whites is knowing what causes teeth discolouration. Here are some of the common causes:
Drinking coffee and red wine
Sorry, coffee lovers! Your favourite cure for tired mornings contains tannins (acidic polyphenols) that lead to staining and discolouration. Red wine also isn’t great, as it is full of acidic chromogens, which can stick to the enamel surface of teeth – causing them to darken and stain over time.
Eating artificial, stained food
The sugars used in sweet, artificial treats can latch onto your teeth and become the main meal for bacteria in your mouth. When the bacteria feeds off the sugars, they release acids that can cause tooth decay and discolouration.
Drinking acidic beverages
Sugar-loaded beverages act the same as sugar-loaded snacks! Your favourite sweetened soft-drink can give the bacteria in your mouth plenty to feed off and release damaging acids that can cause cavities and stain teeth.
Not drinking enough water
Drinking water can help to remove stains by rinsing away staining acids left on the teeth. So if you don’t drink enough water, it’s not great for your pearly whites either.
Smoking
Tobacco is also a major cause of teeth stains and discolouration. As well as stains, smoking can cause many oral health issues like gum disease and oral cancer.
