Maintaining your teeth cosmetically to keep them healthy-looking is a big part of keeping up your personal appearance and is something you can handle in several different ways. In addition to brushing and flossing your teeth daily and attending regular cleanings with you dentist, here are some tips you can follow to keep stains from discoloring your teeth and ways you can remove them by using safe and natural products.

Manage Staining Drink Consumption

Drinking beverages that are dark in color can stain the outside enamel of your teeth and cause them to turn yellow and discolor. Drinks that can yellow and discolor your teeth include coffee, tea, cola, hot chocolate, and red wine. As the drinks pass over your teeth, they coat the enamel and slowly stain them. If you take measures with your teeth during and after drinking these types of drinks, you can keep them white and decrease the chance of their becoming stained.

First, use a straw to drink the beverage to help keep the drink from coming in contact with your teeth. A straw helps the drink bypass most of your teeth and flow to the back of your tongue as you drink it. If you are drinking coffee, adding milk to the coffee can help dilute the coloring of the drink to help minimize staining.

If you don't use a straw with your drink, it is recommended to brush your teeth as soon as possible after drinking any of these staining drinks to remove the coloring from your teeth and prevent the color transfer. If you are not able to brush your teeth, rinsing them with water can also help. Drink a glass of water or take a mouthful of water and swish it around in your mouth, then spit it into the sink. Chewing a piece of sugar free gum is also a good way to help clean your teeth, as chewing gum creates more saliva to help rinse your teeth of the discoloring liquids.

Use Natural Treatments

After you have taken all the steps to prevent staining drinks to discolor the enamel of your teeth, you can take some additional steps to naturally remove exterior discoloration. 

Baking Soda Paste

Make and use a baking soda paste to brush onto your teeth. Baking soda is slightly abrasive, so it can help remove surface stains and plaque build-up that can absorb them. The baking soda will also naturally lighten any stains deep within your tooth enamel to help make them whiter.

Baking soda also balances out the pH of your mouth to make it less acidic and more alkaline. This can help keep the enamel on your teeth from softening and breaking down, especially if you eat and drink lots of acidic foods and drinks. 

Combine a few tablespoons of baking soda and enough water to make a thick paste. Scoop up some of the paste with your toothbrush and brush it onto your teeth. Leave the baking soda and water paste on your teeth for up to three minutes, then rinse your mouth with clean water.

Coconut Oil Pulling

Oil pulling with coconut oil helps to whiten your teeth in addition to many other healthy benefits. This practice removes plaque and harmful bacteria from your teeth and mouth, fights bad breath, reduces inflammation, heals your bleeding gums, and prevents and fights tooth decay. The coconut oil collects and traps toxins, bacteria, and tooth plaque from your mouth, which you spit out with the coconut oil when you are finished.

Practice your oil pulling in the morning, before you eat or drink anything, and before you brush your teeth. Take one to two tablespoons of coconut oil in your mouth, let it dissolve and begin to swish it around in your mouth. Gently swish the oil between your teeth, around your gums, and under your tongue. Continue the swishing for up to twenty minutes, then spit the oil into the trash. Rinse your mouth with warm water, then brush your teeth. 

Use these tips to help you prevent and remove stains and discoloration on your teeth. Or for more information or professional treatments, contact a cosmetic dentist in your area, such as those at BayView Dental Associates.