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Four Common Reasons Your Teeth Become Stained And Discolored

10th December, 2009 - Posted by health news - No Comments

Arlene had always been self-conscious when she smiled because her teeth were out of alignment and crooked. Being one of ten children prevented the financial resources from being available for care when she was growing up and she had always found other places for her money once she was out of the house and earning her own way. But Arlene had recently been bothered with severe headaches and her bottom teeth had become very sensitive when exposed to hot and cold temperatures. She reluctantly consulted a Fort Lauderdale Cosmetic Dentistry who told her that he could help with both her headaches and could correct her crooked teeth simultaneously by fitting her with braces that were almost invisible. Although Arlene had not considered herself a willing candidate for Fort Lauderdale Cosmetic Dentistry services when she made that original call, she was pleased to discover that she was going to be able to alleviate her painful symptoms and get the make-over effect she so desired.

Another common problem that drives people to a mouth specialist is teeth that are yellowed and stained. This is an unsightly dilemma for many of us and there is now several acceptable ways of eliminating stains and whitening teeth that is being commonly offered through your provider. It is always a good idea to prevent these stains whenever possible however and the most common culprits that are responsible for staining teeth are:

• Smoking: Cigarettes are responsible for yellow stains caused by the nicotine they contain. Everyone has seen this staining on the fingers of people who continue to smoke and have seen the effects on the teeth too. Even routine cleanings by your doctor will be unsuccessful in eliminating all of this yellowing and a professional treatment is always recommended. Because smoking cigarettes are a health risk as well, it is advisable to stay away from smoking totally.

• Coffee, tea, soda and red wine: Drinking any of these dark beverages can stain teeth over time. A good preventative technique is to brush your teeth very well after consuming any of these drinks but that is not always possible. Chewing gum that contains no sugar may help in cleaning teeth at least to a small degree until a more thorough brushing can be applied in a minimal way until a better job can be done at home.

• Medications: Some medications are notorious for staining teeth especially in small children. Antibiotics are a known irritant and combined with a high fever in children makes them particularly susceptible to stained teeth. There is no means of preventing this sort of damaged teeth.

• Aging: One more difficult to manage origin of stained or yellowed teeth is the effects of aging on the teeth themselves. As we age, our teeth become more porous and the enamel becomes worn causing our teeth to absorb dark colors from beverages and food we consume. Good mouth hygiene can help but it will not stop the damage caused by the aging process so it is advisable to regularly have your teeth checked and cleaned by a professional.