How to Prevent and Deal with Stained Teeth

For some men, tooth discolouration can leave them self-conscious and hesitant to smile, and there are several types of tooth discolouration to combat, however, the most common one faced is ‘extrinsic.’

This type of staining occurs when the outer layer of the tooth (the enamel) becomes stained due to the everyday food and drink we consume. Some of the most typical offenders are red wine, coke (and other fizzy drinks), coffee, black tea and smoking.

Extrinsic staining tends to discolour the tooth in shades of green, orange, black, yellow or brown, but the good news is, that most extrinsic staining can be reversed to a point with better oral care.

It’s recommended to brush your teeth at least twice a day and to floss too, but when it comes to food and drink prone to discolouration, the best way to avoid extrinsic staining is to brush your teeth as soon after eating or drinking as possible.

Food and drink that affects tooth enamel:

• Black tea
• Coffee
• Red and white wine
• Dark chocolate
• Fizzy drinks
• Beetroot
• Dark berries (i.e. Blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, etc)
• Ice lollies
• Sweets
• Pickled food (i.e. Gherkins, onions, etc)
• Soy sauce
• Spices (i.e. Turmeric, Garam Masala, etc)
• Tomato sauce
• Smoking (tobacco)

If you create an acidic environment in your mouth (consider eating pickled food, wine, pineapples) or simply don’t brush your teeth more regularly, then the enamel becomes vulnerable to the effects of staining.

By moderating the amount of food and drink prone to staining you consume, it’ll lessen the stains on your teeth. Chewing sugar-free gum helps neutralise the acids in your mouth and eating high fibre foods lowers the acid level too. The more saliva that you build up in your mouth can help to brush your teeth whilst you’re on the go.

If your teeth are already stained, we’d recommend first going to see your dentist for a clean and polish. That’ll prepare your teeth and get them in the best shape to start providing better care for them. We wouldn’t turn to “at-home” remedies like baking soda either, as it can scratch resins and veneers (that are used to create crowns and other tooth restorations) and are prone to picking up stains more easily.

Using stain removing toothpaste can be tricky as some can be quite abrasive to your enamel (especially those specifically for smokers). We’d recommend switching through the week between a regular toothpaste to help create strong enamel and a gentle whitening toothpaste to begin removing the effects of staining.

Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair Extra Fresh Toothpaste

The Oral-B gum and enamel repair toothpaste begins to work in just two weeks of use and defends teeth against acid erosion to help repair enamel.

Oral-B 3D White Luxe Whitening Accelerator Toothpaste

To accelerate the process, Oral-B’s White Luxe can be used after brushing your teeth with your standard toothpaste to help achieve whiter teeth quicker.

If you don’t already use an electric toothbrush, we’d recommend considering the option of adding one to your morning routine. Most modern toothbrushes come with a pressure indicator to help you realise when you’re brushing your teeth and gums too hard.

The head of an electric toothbrush penetrates deep below the gum line and removes biofilm from a tooth's surface due to the oscillating motion of the toothbrush head. What’s more, you simply need to guide the brush around your mouth and it’ll do all the hard work for you.

If you’re considering using an electric toothbrush for the first time or looking to upgrade your current model, we’d recommend the following options:

Oral-B Pro 2 2500N Li-ION CrossAction Electric Toothbrush

Oral-B’s CrossAction electric toothbrush removes up to 100% more plaque than a manual toothbrush, as well as boasting two modes for daily cleaning and gum care.

Oral-B Genius 9000 Electric Toothbrush

At the higher end of the spectrum, the Oral-B Genius 9000 has Bluetooth connectivity that syncs to your phone to run an app alongside your brushing routine. It’ll highlight areas of your mouth you’ve missed and tell you how long to spend on brushing, as well as having modes for gum care, cleaning, whitening, tongue cleaning and more.

  If you’ve not quite found what you’re looking for, see more of our oral care range and offers.