It’s the color of the sun, daffodils, and autumn leaves, but despite the many beautiful places it’s found in nature, yellow definitely isn’t an ideal color for teeth. But what causes this discoloration, and what can you do to get rid of it? Here are some common causes of yellow teeth, and how you can get a whiter, brighter smile with the help of your dentist!
Causes of Yellow Teeth
Yellow teeth can be a bit confusing, because you probably don’t eat a mostly yellow diet. The truth is that this hue can be the result of several things. First, if your teeth have plaque or tartar buildup, this is naturally yellow, and thus when stuck to your teeth, will change their color, too.
Furthermore, as your tooth enamel wears away due to age and other damage, it can expose the second layer, known as the dentin, which is also naturally yellow in hue. Other reasons your teeth may change shades include:
- Foods: While some highly pigmented foods like berries or tomatoes could leave behind stains, another likely culprit are sweets and carbs, which can increase oral bacteria and yellow plaque and tartar buildup.
- Beverages: Drinks like coffee and red wine can often leave behind color deposits that appear yellow or brown.
- Smoking: Smoking can stain the teeth brown, yellow or even gray.
- Genetics: Some genetic conditions and enamel disorders may leave the teeth looking yellow.
- Medication: Certain medications can stain teeth such as doxycycline and tetracycline in children under the age of eight. Some adults may experience staining from high blood pressure and antipsychotic medications.
- Aging: As we age, our tooth enamel can wear away, exposing dentin.
- Injury: If you accidentally suffer an injury to a tooth from a fall or other incident, it could turn gray or black in adults, or yellow or brown in children.
- Illness: Chemotherapy treatment for cancer can sometimes cause discoloration in teeth, though usually it tends to be more on the brown side.
- Excessive fluoride: While rare, overconsumption of fluoride as a child can cause brown discoloration on the teeth. In fact, the amazing tooth-protecting benefits of fluoride were first discovered when children in a small town began arriving at the dentist with very healthy, brown tinted teeth!
How Can I Make My Teeth White Again?
The great news is that if you have discoloration in your smile, there are treatments that can help. First and foremost, if you haven’t had a dental exam and cleaning recently, you may be due for a visit to your dentist. A professional polishing can often result in whiter teeth because your dental team has special tools that can remove yellow buildup that brushing alone can’t fix.
If your teeth are otherwise clean and healthy, a professional whitening treatment from your dentist can help remove up to eight shades of discoloration in about two weeks. You’ll simply need to schedule a consultation with your dentist, have custom-fit trays made that perfectly fit your mouth, and bring home your trays and custom whitening solution. Then, you’ll just use the bleaching gel with the trays as directed, and soon you’ll enjoy a whiter, brighter smile!
Remember, there are many reasons why your smile may turn yellow. Whether it’s due to diet, bad oral habits, age, or anything else, professional whitening from your dentist can help remove stains and give you the whiter, brighter smile you desire!
About Our Practice
At Tylan Creek Family Dentistry, we have not one but seven caring and skilled dentists to help give you and your family gorgeous, glowing grins! If your teeth are looking a little lackluster and not quite as white as you’d like, it could be time for a professional whitening kit. To schedule a consultation for whitening, visit our website today!