There are a few things that we tend to notice as we start to become older. The smooth skin that we once had now shows signs of ageing, usually in the form of lines and wrinkles. Our teeth too are likely to have suffered years of wear and tear and may have a few minor issues such as small chips and stains. The main thing that we often notice about our teeth as we get older though is that they are no longer as white as they used to be.<\/p>\n
There can be a number of factors that lead to this tooth discolouration, and, whilst not all of these are entirely avoidable, some changes to our lifestyles can certainly make a big difference. We will take a look at those in our blog today, along with solutions for any of our Acton patients who have already started to notice the change in colour of their teeth.<\/p>\n
One of the most obvious and sensible things that you can do to reduce any staining of the teeth is to stop smoking. Over time, deposits from the tobacco will stain your teeth, and often quite badly. This is, of course, in addition to the serious health risks of smoking which include not only lung cancer but cancer of the mouth too. Stopping smoking is one of the best things that you can do, not only to keep your teeth whiter, but your oral health in better shape too.<\/p>\n
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Some food and drinks are well known teeth stainers. These include tea, coffee and red wine along with some spices, for example in curries, dark berries and soya sauce. It is a long list and the likelihood is that you won\u2019t stop consuming all of them but it is worth doing a little research and seeing where you can cut down or stop altogether.<\/p>\n
One type of drink in particular is especially problematic, even if it doesn’t have any obvious staining properties. Sports drinks and fizzy drinks are not only high in sugar but also acids too and these can damage the enamel on your teeth; something that we often see at the Acton Vale Dental Centre<\/a>. The effect of this is not only to put the teeth at risk from issues like sensitivity but also means that the rougher tooth surface can collect staining materials as it makes it easy for them to become attached to your teeth. This doesn\u2019t just mean avoiding the darker coloured drinks such as colas but even clear ones like lemonade can have this effect too. If you do drink any of these, using a straw to avoid some of the contact with the front tooth surface is advisable.<\/p>\n Related to the above, water is your best friend. Not only is it the best drink for rehydration purposes, but is also useful following a meal or a drink, to wash away some of the sugars and staining products from your teeth. Try swilling some water around your mouth after drinking or eating. It doesn\u2019t replace brushing but can do some immediate good.<\/p>\n This is essential, and for reasons that we don\u2019t really need to mention here. Aside from the overall benefits in doing these things, they will also play a significant part in removing stains from your teeth. Don\u2019t \u2018scrub\u2019 your teeth hard though. Like the acidic drinks, this can cause damage to the teeth surface. If you want advice on the best way to do this, the next section will help.<\/p>\n Everyone should see our hygienist every six months, or as advised. Not only is this a great way to learn more about keeping your teeth and gums in good health, but they will also carry out a treatment known as a \u2018scale and polish\u2019. This is a non-invasive cleaning procedure that will remove tartar from the teeth and smooth the surface which helps to prevent staining ingredients from sticking to it. Most patients also find that their teeth look a little whiter after this procedure.<\/p>\n Eventually, we will all end up with teeth that are not as white as they used to be. This is at least partially down to the fact that the inner part of the tooth naturally darkens with age and this then shows through the translucent tooth enamel. No amount of brushing will improve this and one of the most effective ways of whitening teeth affected in this way is through a teeth whitening technique<\/a> that we carry out at our Acton dental practice. This is a non-invasive treatment that can whiten your teeth by several shades with long lasting results.<\/p>\n While previous treatments mentioned have been non-invasive, porcelain veneers are often a good option for people with more badly stained or discoloured teeth. These do require some invasive dentistry though. This involves the removal of a fine layer of the discoloured enamel from the tooth which is then replaced with an equivalent thickness of porcelain veneer. This is attached using a special dental adhesive and then trimmed and polished to give you natural looking, whiter teeth.<\/p>\n As you can see, it is possible to keep your teeth whiter for longer with good care and common sense. Eventually though, the only way to have a really white smile is to use cosmetic dentistry to achieve this. If you would like to know more about the options available to you or to discuss any other dental related matter with us, please call the Acton Vale Dental Centre on 0204 8749 3267<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Keep your teeth whiter for longer and help reverse discolouration. There are a few things that we tend to notice as we start to become older. The smooth skin that we once had now shows signs of ageing, usually in …<\/p>\nWater<\/h3>\n
Brushing and flossing<\/h3>\n
Dental hygienist<\/h3>\n
Teeth whitening<\/h3>\n
Veneers<\/h3>\n