Shying away from your smile because of yellow teeth? Yellow teeth are more common than you may think. If you think about it, our teeth are exposed to everything we put into our mouths. Even if we're extremely consistent with good oral hygiene, sometimes it's not enough to combat teeth yellowing. There's still hope for you, though. Modern dentistry has brought us teeth whitening solutions and other alternatives that may solve your yellow teeth.
Today, we'll discuss why our teeth turn yellow, how to avoid it, and, if necessary, how to get those pearly whites again!
Yellow stains on teeth are a common issue that many people struggle with. Unfortunately, you might find that yellow teeth are caused a combination of issues, mostly involving what an individual puts into their mouth. Because the mouth is the main entry point for what we eat or in some cases, breathe in, it's only natural that it would be affected by those substances. Here are some of the most common causes of yellow teeth stains:
If you're a smoker and your teeth haven't started yellowing yet, give it time. Smoking is one of the leading causes of yellow teeth, apart from the foods and drinks we consume. In general, smoking is bad for you, but when you smoke, toxic substances like tar are deposited in the oral cavity when the tobacco is burnt, and it forms a veil over your teeth, causing discoloured teeth. While you may be able to get professional teeth whitening, if your plan is to continue smoking, then you'll be back in the dentist chair within a few months again.
Genetics also play a role in the colour of our teeth. Tooth colour tends to differ from person to person. Generally, this would depend on the basic shade of the tooth bone and how thick the tooth enamel is around it. Usually, the thicker the layer around the teeth, the whiter the teeth appear.
What we consume also influences the colour of our teeth. Yellow discoloured teeth can also be caused by eating or drinking similar foods or drinks regularly, with a strong staining effect. The colour particles from these foods or beverages settle on the surface of your teeth, or, in some cases, even penetrate the enamel over time, causing the yellowing of those teeth. Here are some of the most common foods and beverages that do this:
Coffee
Red wine
Balsamic vinegar
Soft drinks
Berries
Beetroot
Curry
Wear and tear
Over time, your teeth can also gradually change in colour, looking more yellow with time. This is because of the makeup of your teeth. The surface layer, tooth enamel, is a white substance that covers your teeth, with dentin making up the internal layer. Dentin varies in colour from person to person, but usually is a reddish brown colour. As the enamel gets thinner from being worn down by eating, the natural colour of the dentin could show through.
Bad dental hygiene is another cause for yellow teeth. If you don't brush your teeth often or brush incorrectly, you can leave bacteria behind, which could result in tartar and plaque buildup. Unfortunately, this can damage the appearance of your teeth and even lead to gum disease further down the line. Having your teeth professionally cleaned of the tartar would be in your best interest in this case.
There are mainly two types of tooth stains that people get: an extrinsic stain and intrinsic discolouration. Extrinsic stains are simple stains on the surface level of the enamel caused by what we eat and our lifestyle. Intrinsic stains can be caused by other factors, like the medication you take, old age, or trauma.
While good oral hygiene does its fair share to keep your teeth healthy by cleaning off plaque buildup or eliminating surface stains, it unfortunately can't deal with deeper issues, like enamel wear that causes the enamel layer to thin and expose the colour of the dentin. This may be why the colour of your teeth is changing regardless of your healthy oral hygiene routine.
There are some basic home remedies that might work to solve surface stains, but for more severe tooth discolouration, you're going to have to seek help from a dentist. Here are some home remedies you can try:
Use baking soda with hydrogen peroxide to create a paste to help remove plaque buildup
Coconut oil pulling is also known to help remove plaque and bacteria
Apple cider vinegar can help whiten your teeth slightly when used in small amounts
Activated charcoal is generally a good solution for teeth whitening, which is why some toothpastes use it as an ingredient
Fruits and vegetables with higher water content can help keep your teeth clean
Maintaining a good routine for oral hygiene
Unfortunately, sometimes these home remedies don't work for dealing with yellow teeth. If your teeth are yellow and past the point of some of the remedies above, then a visit to the dentist may be your next stop. Here are some dental treatments that may help you fix yellow teeth:
Teeth whitening is probably one of the most common treatments used to deal with yellow teeth. Nowadays, you can get DIY teeth whitening kits. However, many of these kits may hold ingredients that could damage your teeth, so it would be in your best interest to have professional teeth whitening done instead.
The treatment would make use of a bleaching agent that contains hydrogen peroxide. After the gel is applied, it's exposed to a zoom light that breaks down the stains on your teeth and makes them lighter, giving you a white smile. Usually, we would recommend that you go for a dental cleaning about a month before having your teeth whitened so give you the best results possible.
Learn more about our teeth whitening options at our Melbourne clinic.
In some cases where tooth whitening products don't seem to work to correct the yellowing in your teeth, a dentist might recommend that you have veneers put in, amongst other options. Usually made from porcelain or a composite resin safe for dental use, veneers are a thin cap that fits over the front or back of your teeth, hiding cosmetic issues.
When veneers are installed, a small layer of enamel is filed off, creating a coarse surface for the veneers to stick to. The benefit of veneers is that they can be designed in multiple colours, either matching the colour of your teeth or making them whiter. Veneers also have a long lifespan, lasting over 10 years, and don't stain easily, meaning they would be a long-lasting solution. However, they are expensive.
Learn more about veneer treatment options at our Melbourne clinic.
Bonding is another option. Dental bonding involves a resin layer placed over your teeth and moulded to fit them perfectly. The beauty of this treatment is that it's super fast, and the resin can be customised to suit the colour you want. In comparison to veneers, dental bonding is also much more affordable. However, they would need some touch-ups every few years. It also might not be the best solution if you have multiple teeth that are discoloured.
Learn more about dental bonding treatment options at our Melbourne clinic.
In some cases, tooth discolouration is a result of cavities in the tooth. If this is the case, a dentist might recommend that you have crowns installed. Like veneers, crowns are made from porcelain or a composite resin. However, they differ in that they go over the entire tooth like a cap instead of just fitting on the front or back. Crowns would normally be the last solution considered here, as they are more expensive and often require the dentist to file down your tooth a bit to create an anchor for the crown to fit on. Crowns do have the bonus of being very durable, long-lasting and stain-resistant, so they would at least solve your problem.
Learn more about dental crown treatment options at our Melbourne clinic.
Yellow teeth can negatively impact your confidence and stop you from sharing your smile with the world. If you're looking for a solution to brighten your smile, approaching a dentist and doing one of the above treatments may be your best bet. Learn more about how to fix your yellow teeth at our Melbourne CBD clinic today!
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Disclaimer: every treatment has risks. The treatment posted on this page might not be appropriate for your oral environment. You need a full consultation with an Australian qualified dental professional before we can confirm if you are a good candidate for any treatments. Results vary from person to person. This page’s posts does not replace real life dental professional’s examination & opinion. We are a very experienced team of general dentists with special interests in different fields if dentistry. Learn more about the risks here.
