Are you embarrassed to smile in front of people because your teeth are yellow or discolored? Are you brushing your teeth every day but still not seeing results? Don’t worry, there are always solutions to dental problems so let’s take a look at what makes teeth yellow and what you can do about it.
What Makes Teeth Yellow?
Your teeth can look yellow because of two types of staining.
Extrinsic teeth stains are stains on the outside surface of the enamel.
Intrinsic teeth stains are stains inside of the tooth, where the dentin has become discolored.
There are several reasons why your teeth might be stained, or not as white as you’d like them to be. Here are the most common culprits that make teeth yellow:
- Smoking or tobacco use
As well as being bad for your overall health, tobacco products and smoking stain your teeth. - Certain foods and drink
Strongly colored food and drinks such as tea, coffee, cola, soy sauce, tomato sauces, beets and berries can cause your teeth to become discolored. - Some medications
Treatments for high blood pressure, allergies and chemotherapy can cause yellowing of the teeth. - Age
As we get older, the enamel on our teeth starts to get thinner so more of the underlying dentin can be seen through it. Dentin is naturally more yellow in color, giving teeth a yellow appearance. - Genetics
Sometimes there’s not much you can do about the natural color of your teeth apart from blaming your parents!
Does Brushing Make My Teeth Whiter?
The easiest way to keep your teeth in great shape is by brushing at least twice a day and flossing daily. Please note, though, that the natural color of most peoples’ teeth is not a bright, brilliant white anyway so don’t despair if your teeth are not looking 100% Hollywood ready.
Brushing is also not really intended to make your teeth whiter. While you can use whitening toothpastes which may work to some degree, brushing is necessary to remove bacteria from the mouth, leading to healthy teeth and gums. Brushing will keep your teeth clean, but it won’t whiten them.
How Your Dentist Can Get Rid of Yellow Teeth
If your yellow teeth are getting you down, pay a visit to the professionals at Discovery Dental Group in Missoula, MT. We can assess and advise you on your next steps, whether that be upping your oral healthcare routine or scheduling a cleaning. For stained or yellow teeth, we have options such as custom tooth bleaching or whitening which will lighten your smile and give you a confidence boost. For more severely stained or discolored teeth, we have the option of dental bonding or veneers to create a flawless surface look.