As we age our teeth tend to lose their whiteness, yellowing from many things including different types of foods and drinks.
There are many offenders that will stain your teeth and high on the list of problems is tea.
Although tea will stain and yellow your teeth, that is no reasons to stop enjoying the healthy beverage.
Surprisingly, tea may be even more harmfully discoloring to teeth than coffee.
This is due to the high amount of tannin found in many teas.
Tannin is a yellowish or brownish bitter-tasting organic substance found in tea leaves as well as plants, seeds, bark, woods and fruit skins.
It is also prevalent in many wines.
Tannin is found in much heavier doses in black teas, so if you want to minimize the discoloration that tea presents you could try switching to herbal or green teas, although that switch would not eliminate the problem completely.
Plus, if you drink tea because you like a certain flavor you'd likely be giving up something you'd enjoy and perhaps not even get a favorable difference out of the change.
Drinking a glass of water after you finish your tea will help reduce the amount of tannin left in your mouth.
Even better than that, keeping a toothbrush handy would allow you to be able to brush your teeth immediately after you finish your tea beverage.
With all the foods that cause yellowing of teeth, it's somewhat surprising that there are a handful of foods that can naturally prevent tooth stains.
Apples, carrots, celery, cauliflower and hard cheeses will all gently scrub your teeth as you chew them, and will also stimulate saliva production in your mouth.
The extra saliva produced by these items will neutralize acid and clean your mouth.
Avoid the Stain There are a handful of tricks that will help you minimize any staining damage that foods and drinks can cause.
Cut out tobacco.
No matter how you use or ingest it, tobacco will stain your teeth (and your fingers!).
Visit the dentist regularly.
It is recommended that everyone get a teeth cleaning and dental check-up every six months.
A teeth cleaning can make your teeth look immediately brighter.
Take care of those pearly whites.
Brushing twice daily is the standard care that most dentists recommend.
Daily flossing and using an antibacterial mouthwash will also help fight plaque, which is a sticky substance that clings to your teeth giving stains a foothold in your mouth.
Use a straw.
They're not just for kids; straws bypass your front teeth, which are the most high-risk places for stains to take hold.
Drinks such as soda, juice, coffee and tea are all good straw candidates.
Bleaching and Whitening If your teeth are already stained and you want them to be whiter then you do have a few options.
Depending on how much money you want to spend, there are over-the-counter choices, and there are professional dental options.
Not everyone is a candidate for these options.
Yellow teeth may be able to be effectively whitened; however darker colored stains like grey or brown may not be fixable with bleach or whitening treatments.
Whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes are the least expensive route to go for an at-home solution.
These are not always effective due to the fact they are used so quickly and do not stay long on the affected area.
These products can also cause teeth sensitivity because they contain tiny particles that are abrasive to your teeth and scratch the surface stains from your teeth.
Purchasing a do-it-yourself teeth whitening kit is another alternative.
Many toothpaste companies have a kit you can purchase in the pharmacy department of your local grocery store.
These kits are often easy to use and are supposed to work within a couple of weeks.
These kits can also cause extra teeth sensitivity while you are using the treatment.
Professional teeth whitening can be done by your dentist through one or multiple visits.
This is done using a bleaching agent directly applied to your teeth inside a protective gel shield, with a laser or light enhancing the whitening process.
So you don't have to give up your favorite beverage just to save your teeth from staining.
With these options you have plenty of reasons to keep on enjoying your tea, your coffee and your fruit juices too!
There are many offenders that will stain your teeth and high on the list of problems is tea.
Although tea will stain and yellow your teeth, that is no reasons to stop enjoying the healthy beverage.
Surprisingly, tea may be even more harmfully discoloring to teeth than coffee.
This is due to the high amount of tannin found in many teas.
Tannin is a yellowish or brownish bitter-tasting organic substance found in tea leaves as well as plants, seeds, bark, woods and fruit skins.
It is also prevalent in many wines.
Tannin is found in much heavier doses in black teas, so if you want to minimize the discoloration that tea presents you could try switching to herbal or green teas, although that switch would not eliminate the problem completely.
Plus, if you drink tea because you like a certain flavor you'd likely be giving up something you'd enjoy and perhaps not even get a favorable difference out of the change.
Drinking a glass of water after you finish your tea will help reduce the amount of tannin left in your mouth.
Even better than that, keeping a toothbrush handy would allow you to be able to brush your teeth immediately after you finish your tea beverage.
With all the foods that cause yellowing of teeth, it's somewhat surprising that there are a handful of foods that can naturally prevent tooth stains.
Apples, carrots, celery, cauliflower and hard cheeses will all gently scrub your teeth as you chew them, and will also stimulate saliva production in your mouth.
The extra saliva produced by these items will neutralize acid and clean your mouth.
Avoid the Stain There are a handful of tricks that will help you minimize any staining damage that foods and drinks can cause.
Cut out tobacco.
No matter how you use or ingest it, tobacco will stain your teeth (and your fingers!).
Visit the dentist regularly.
It is recommended that everyone get a teeth cleaning and dental check-up every six months.
A teeth cleaning can make your teeth look immediately brighter.
Take care of those pearly whites.
Brushing twice daily is the standard care that most dentists recommend.
Daily flossing and using an antibacterial mouthwash will also help fight plaque, which is a sticky substance that clings to your teeth giving stains a foothold in your mouth.
Use a straw.
They're not just for kids; straws bypass your front teeth, which are the most high-risk places for stains to take hold.
Drinks such as soda, juice, coffee and tea are all good straw candidates.
Bleaching and Whitening If your teeth are already stained and you want them to be whiter then you do have a few options.
Depending on how much money you want to spend, there are over-the-counter choices, and there are professional dental options.
Not everyone is a candidate for these options.
Yellow teeth may be able to be effectively whitened; however darker colored stains like grey or brown may not be fixable with bleach or whitening treatments.
Whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes are the least expensive route to go for an at-home solution.
These are not always effective due to the fact they are used so quickly and do not stay long on the affected area.
These products can also cause teeth sensitivity because they contain tiny particles that are abrasive to your teeth and scratch the surface stains from your teeth.
Purchasing a do-it-yourself teeth whitening kit is another alternative.
Many toothpaste companies have a kit you can purchase in the pharmacy department of your local grocery store.
These kits are often easy to use and are supposed to work within a couple of weeks.
These kits can also cause extra teeth sensitivity while you are using the treatment.
Professional teeth whitening can be done by your dentist through one or multiple visits.
This is done using a bleaching agent directly applied to your teeth inside a protective gel shield, with a laser or light enhancing the whitening process.
So you don't have to give up your favorite beverage just to save your teeth from staining.
With these options you have plenty of reasons to keep on enjoying your tea, your coffee and your fruit juices too!