The good news about most common dental issues, like cavities and gum disease, is that they’re usually highly preventable. The thing about teeth stains, however, is that they can occur even when you consistently practice good hygiene and preventive dentistry. For instance, after years of exposure to your foods and beverages, your teeth can eventually change color and lose their healthy brilliance. Fortunately, even when food stains your teeth, you can quickly and easily get rid of them with professional teeth whitening.

Food Molecules and Tooth Enamel

Food and beverages interact with your teeth in numerous ways. They can feed oral bacteria that threaten your tooth structure, or provide vital nutrients to keep your teeth strong and healthy. All foods, however, have color, and the molecules that dictate that color, known as chromogens, cling to your tooth enamel every time you eat. Over time, chromogens can noticeably change the color and appearance of your teeth. If you don’t practice good hygiene, then your enamel can become weak, accelerating your food’s ability to stain your teeth.

How to Deal with Food Stains

Brushing and flossing your teeth after every meal (or at least twice every day) can slow teeth staining and prolong your smile’s youthful appearance. However, when stains do develop, your dentist can often erase them with professional teeth whitening. The treatment involves carefully applying a safe but potent bleaching agent onto the surfaces of your teeth. The gel breaks up chromogens and other staining elements on your tooth enamel, then brightens their structures for a beautiful, youthful finish.

Erase Food Stains with Teeth-Whitening

You can’t always prevent food from eventually staining your teeth, but you can easily erase the stains with professional teeth-whitening! To find out more, schedule a consultation by calling Dr. Steven Huffstutler in Ft. Worth, TX, today at 817-918-3038.