Teeth become stained and discolored for a number of different reasons. However, by knowing what causes stained teeth, you can work to combat these teeth staining agents.

What stains the teeth?
Some of the most common reasons for stained teeth include:

    Dark beverages. This includes sodas like colas and root beer and the two worst things for staining teeth, coffee and tea. Red wine is also an offender.
    Berries and berry juice. Included in this group is not only berries such as strawberries and blueberries, but grape juice and cranberry juice as well.
    Sauces such as soy sauce, tomato sauce and paste, and balsamic vinegar.
    Not enough brushing. If you skip brushing and flossing and regular cleanings, your teeth will begin to take on a yellowish tinge.
    Age. Teeth begin to naturally darken or discolor as we age.

How to combat teeth staining agents
In order to combat these teeth staining agents, consider the following tips:

?    Watch what you eat and drink. You should limit the amount of staining beverages and foods you consume. Or, you can substitute them for water and lighter foods and drinks, like grapefruit and grapefruit juice, white grape juice, ginger ale, white wine vinegar, and olive oil.
?    Get regular check-ups. Most adults and even children don't visit the dentist nearly enough. Whether it's because they don't feel like they need it or because they're scared, many people don't get check-ups at least once a year, which is what is recommended. Annual check-ups will include a cleaning, which removes tartar and plaque build-up from the teeth, preventing decay and gum disease and other teeth staining agents.
?    Chew gum. If you are unable to brush your teeth after a meal, sugar-free gum has shown to be an effective way to help clean the teeth and prevent an accumulation of plaque on the teeth, although it should never be substituted for brushing altogether. This can help to combat those teeth staining agents.
?    Brush properly. This is probably the single most effective way to fight teeth staining agents. Experts recommend you brush teeth at least twice daily with an American Dental Association-approved toothpaste. Your toothbrush should be replaced every three to four months. Proper brushing technique is to brush for at least two minutes (a minute on the top and a minute on the bottom) in a circular motion, concentrating on the gum line. You should also consider purchasing an electric toothbrush. These have been proven to be more effective at removing plaque from teeth, which can also discolor teeth.

What to do if your teeth are stained
If your teeth are already stained or discolored, there are many things that can help restore your white smile. You can whiten teeth with products from your dentist or from the drugstore. Whitening strips, whitening toothpastes, and other products can be purchased over the counter and are effective at removing stains. For teeth that are severely stained, a dentist can discuss whitening options that will remove deeper stains.

If you are a smoker and don't believe that smoking is having an effect on your teeth, you are wrong!  Smoking stains teeth, promotes bad breath, and causes damage not only to the teeth themselves but to the gums and even the rest of your immune system as well. 

In the mouth, smoking mainly affects the gums and the lining in the mouth.  This deterioration makes the smoker more susceptible to diseases and even oral cancer.  Research has shown that smokers develop 5 times more oral cancers than non-smokers and consistently suffer from some degree of periodontal disease. In addition studies have shown that smoking can cause gum disease, bone loss, and tooth loss.

If you are still not convinced of the damage that smoking can inflict on your oral health, below are even more negative effects that smoking has on your teeth:

    Smoking reduces blood flow to the gums and cuts the supply of vital nutrients. For example, levels of vitamin C can be reduced by as much as half.  Ironically vitamin C is key to maintaining healthy gums.
    Smoking stains teeth, even within just a few years. For most new smokers surface stains can be removed, but the process becomes harder and harder with time as the stains will become deeper set in the enamel of the tooth.  Some stains are permanent and cannot be removed.
    Smokers are 6 times more likely to have periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a serious matter as the disease not only affects the gums but also the bones in the jaw.  When these supporting bones are weakened the teeth become less stable and therefore move more easily. Periodontal disease can become so painful that removal of teeth is the only way to find relief from the pain.
    Many studies show that smokers tend to have more tooth decay than non-smokers.
    Smoking compromises your saliva flow and function which is important for cleaning the lining of the mouth and teeth and protecting teeth from decay.
    Periodontal disease is not necessarily and unavoidable result of smoking, rather smoking serves as a cover to the presence of the disease allowing it to do damage that is irreparable once it is discovered.
    Smoking actually inhibits the ability of the body to combat periodontal disease.   This is because smoking only magnifies the negative effects of plaque and bacteria formation at the gum line.
    Because smoking reduces sensation in the mouth, the pain otherwise caused by periodontal disease in non-smokers goes unnoticed. Therefore, by the time the disease is diagnosed irreparable damage has usually occurred.
    Nicotine is vaso-constrictive, meaning it constricts blood vessels. This makes the healing process more difficult as blood vessels must be able to supply an infection with anti-bodies and white blood cells.
    Remember that smoking does not only have a negative effect on your teeth but also on the teeth of those that have to share your smoking habit with you.  Children with parents who smoke are more likely to contract the same oral health problems that their smoking parents have.  Not to mention all of the other physical ailments that they will be subjected to later in life.

So keep your teeth and the teeth of those you love healthy by making the choice to quit smoking.  When you do, we will all smile a little brighter.