The likeliest foods and drinks to stain your teeth. But avoiding your favorite foods for the sake of a pearly white smile is a buzzkill, in our book. And what you should instead focus on doing is brushing and flossing quickly after indulging in these things. “Chances are if you are eating like a ‘normal’ human being, you’ll encounter plenty of foods and liquids that will naturally stain your enamel,”
Brushing or flossing incorrectly
It’s important to brush and floss correctly . Brushing frequently (2-3 times daily) and for the proper amount of time (at least 2 minutes) and throughout your entire mouth—well, that’s what counts. And while it may feel silly to floss after each meal, the most important thing is to floss before bed, when otherwise that food might stay pressed between your teeth for 8 or more hours on end.
Not whitening
It's perfectly legit to not want to spend time and money on getting a whiter smile. But if that's you, stop comparing yourself to the people you see on TV—or to anyone in your daily life who has unusually bright teeth. “Most people with very white and bright teeth were not born that way either. They sought professional whitening or had procedures done such as veneers to make them that way.” If you really want a brighter smile, then speak with your dentist about the best plan forward, or for their professional advice on the best and safest at-home measures for you.
Smoking
Come on now. Did you really think smoking would somehow not make this list? As if its negative impact on your teeth are the most worrisome side effects. And hey, it’s not just the tobacco: The ‘green stuff’ can lead to tooth discoloration, too.
Getting older
Teeth become more resistant to professional whitening techniques with age. Chances are, the younger you are, the better results you’ll get with teeth whitening procedures. But don’t let that discourage you from making your best effort. You can still improve your smile regardless of the starting point and age-induced friction.
Skipping routine dental cleanings
Skipping routine dental cleanings can have a severe impact on your oral health, including teeth brightness. “It is very common for patients to come to a dental office, neglecting regular oral hygiene visits but very concerned over their teeth shade,” .“Part of a regular dental cleaning is extrinsic stain removal – ‘extrinsic’ refers to surface level staining that the dental hygienist can remove with polishing procedures."
Using a sub-par whitening method
If you whiten your teeth with custom whitening trays such as with the KöR Whitening System, you can use the trays for ‘maintenance whitening’,” “Think of ‘maintenance whitening’ as a touch-up whitening done once every few months, or when you want to bring out the brightest shade for a special event. As long as you have not had major dental work, the trays should fit well for years and you can purchase ‘refill’ whitening gel from your dentist.”
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