Staining builds up slowly — most of the time it is everyday habits, not big mistakes.
The usual suspects
- Coffee, tea, and red wine — tannins and pigments settle into enamel.
- Skipping the evening brush — plaque left overnight holds onto stains.
- Skipping between-teeth cleaning — the edges of teeth darken first.
- Dry mouth — saliva naturally rinses pigment away; drink water through the day.
- Stopping after whitening — results fade without a maintenance habit.
The fix is boring (and effective)
Brush twice daily, clean between teeth once a day, rinse with water after staining drinks, and keep a gentle whitening routine going rather than starting and stopping. A brighter smile is mostly maintenance.