If you have yellow teeth, you’re probably at least a little concerned about them. You don’t need to be a dental expert to know that stained enamel is often a sign of poor oral health. Yellow teeth stains also have an unpleasant appearance, putting off those who look at them. That said, what’s the best way to solve the problem?
In answer to your question, below is a summary of common causes and solutions to yellow teeth. Read on to learn how you should identify, treat, and prevent them in the future.
Causes of Tooth Yellowing
Teeth can turn yellow over time for assorted reasons. Consider the following examples:
- Genetics: Sometimes, tooth color runs in the family. If you have a parent whose teeth are yellow, yours are likely a similar hue.
- Thin/Transparent Denin: Teeth can look yellow when the enamel is thin and the dentin — a deep yellow material underneath — shows through it. This material is often responsible for the yellow you see when looking in the mirror.
- Food & Drink Stains: Products like berries, red wine, and coffee can yellow your teeth. They have tannins that get into tooth enamel and cause long-term discoloration.
- Antibiotics: Certain antibiotics can create yellow or even gray-brown tooth stains. Doxycycline and tetracycline darken teeth in children younger than eight years old.
Solutions to Tooth Yellowing
You can cure yellow teeth using several methods. The two most effective ones are teeth whitening and stain prevention.
Teeth Whitening:
At-home whitening involves over-the-counter strips, trays and gels that use hydrogen peroxide to bleach tooth enamel white. They could give you results in a few days, which would last several months with proper care. Meanwhile, professional teeth whitening is done at your dentist’s office and applies a bleaching agent directly to your teeth. You’ll have a significantly whiter smile in as little as a one-hour appointment.
Stain Prevention:
The best way to prevent tooth stains is by practicing regular teeth cleaning — brush twice daily and floss once daily to avoid the buildup of food particles and bacteria. You could also drink tannin-heavy beverages through a straw to reduce their contact with your teeth.
Yellowed teeth aren’t great, but you should remember that there are ways to overcome them. See your dentist for possible treatment options that keep your smile healthy and white for a while!
About the Practice
Plush Dentistry is based in Frisco, TX. Led by Drs. Ali and Kraipak, their team promises patients the “Plush Experience” — precision dental procedures customized to meet your wants and needs. They offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry at fair prices and have private treatment suites upon request. Overall, the practice is inspired by a vision of giving perfect smiles to the world. For more information or to book an appointment, they can be reached at their website or by phone at (469)-850-0786.