A lot of people tend to think that discoloured teeth are caused purely by improper oral hygiene. However, even with adequate brushing and flossing, you can still easily get stained teeth — especially if you don’t watch the things you eat or place in your mouth.

Listed below are some of the biggest culprits for unsightly stained teeth:

1. Drinking coloured, acidic drinks such as coffee, tea, soda and wine. Acidic materials are known to wear away the enamel that serves as a protective layer for the teeth. In addition, extreme temperatures, such as when drinking hot coffee or ice-cold sodas, can lead to expansion of pores present in the layers of the tooth. The abrasive action of acids can expose the yellow dentin layer below the enamel, making the teeth look yellow. Larger teeth pores, on the other hand, can be penetrated by dark-coloured materials, and once these substances are inside the pores, they can give the tooth a darker appearance — they can also be much harder to remove. One way to reduce teeth staining from consumption of coloured, acidic beverages is to simply rinse the mouth with water. Brushing is not recommended when there is acid in the mouth as it can increase enamel wear.
2. Using tobacco products.Tobacco products, such as cigars, cigarettes, pipes, and tobacco chews contain nicotine and tar, two dark-coloured substances that can easily adhere to enamel surfaces and stain teeth. Besides staining teeth, these products can also make the mouth and lips look much darker. On top of all that, smoking is also linked with other serious illnesses, such as cancer. Stained teeth, dark lips and illness — how else can you smile with all that? The best way to avoid all these is to stop using tobacco products altogether.
3. Consuming large amounts of fluorinated materials. Fluoride is indeed essential in keeping teeth healthy, but too much fluoride in children under 6 can cause staining. Using kid’s toothpaste is fine with fluoridated water but there is no need for fluoride tablets, rinses or drops.
4. Excessive use of whitening agents. Whitening agents, such as peroxide solutions and baking soda, may indeed help lighten the colour of teeth and even remove stubborn stains. However, these materials erode the enamel layer of the teeth and expose the yellow dentin layer when used excessively. Tooth whitening is effective when done properly, but excessive use can be counterproductive.