Causes and How to Whiten Yellow Teeth

Everyone wants a bright, healthy, and appealing smile. Unfortunately, due to various reasons, our teeth can become stained, which dramatically affects our confidence levels.
Luckily, staining can usually be reversed using professional or at-home teeth whitening techniques, depending on the cause.

How stained teeth can affect your smile and life?

Stained teeth can significantly affect the aesthetics of your smile and your life. If your teeth are stained, whether it be caused by overzealous coffee consumption or poor dental hygiene habits, your smile will not be attractive. This fact alone causes many people to hide their smiles, feeling ashamed that their pearly whites aren’t so white at all.

Our smiles play a major role in making a positive first impression, whether it be in a professional or personal situation. Most people look at our teeth first, then our eyes, especially in photographs.

What are the causes of yellow teeth?

A multitude of reasons can cause stained, or yellowed teeth. Some people are born with naturally yellow teeth, while others adopt different lifestyles or habits that promote surface and deep level staining.

1. Genetics

Depending on your genetics, your teeth may be a less white shade naturally. Certain shades, like red-brown, red-yellow, grey or red-grey are common tooth colour variances based upon genetics.

2. Dentin

Teeth appear yellow when the dentin, the yellow to the brown-hued second layer of your teeth placed underneath the enamel, is showing. This happens when your enamel is thin due to injury, age, genetics or if your teeth were damaged in some accident and your dentin becomes exposed.

3. Wear

Whether your teeth were chipped in an accident, or you grind your teeth on a nightly basis, you may have some discolouring in your teeth. This is because the deeper surfaces of your teeth become exposed, which could be a darker shade than the top layer of enamel we are used to seeing.
Your enamel starts to wear away due to decades of daily wear and tear. As the enamel disappears, the dentin is exposed, making your teeth appear yellow.

4. Smoking

Exposing your teeth to tobacco products over time can discolour them.

5. Foods

Anything we put in our mouth can stain the surface of our teeth, even food. Generally, any brightly coloured foods like berries or curry sauce will leave stains over time.
Just because a food is healthy for our bodies and rich in important minerals does not mean it won’t leave surface stains. Although artificial, rather unhealthy foods are believed to cause more staining compared to their healthier counterparts.

6. Drinks

Different drinks can break down your enamel or leave stains, leading to teeth that appear less white. Citrus drinks actively break down your enamel, exposing your dentin over time. Beverages like coffee and red wine leave stubborn surface stains that can distract from your smile.

7. Fluorosis

Fluoride is good for your teeth, in the right amount. Too much fluoride can actually call small yellow or brown spots, called fluorosis.

How to avoid yellow teeth?

The best way to avoid yellow teeth is to practice good dental health and visit your Telford dentist regularly for deep cleanings.
Also, make changes to your lifestyle, like reducing coffee and wine consumption, in addition to stopping smoking to prevent future staining. If you do happen to eat or drink something that could potentially stain your teeth, drink milk, or plain water to counteract any lasting erosion.

Are home remedies for teeth whitening safe?

Yes, home remedies for teeth whitening are generally safe, albeit not as effective as professional treatments you could receive at your dentist’s practice.

Home remedies include store-bought whitening strips or toothpaste, a mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, as well as oil pulling with coconut oil.

What are the other safe teeth whitening treatments available?

Getting a tooth bleaching treatment in your dentist’s surgery is a viable option resulting in whiter teeth faster, compared to at-home methods.
Take home trays, and whitening gels are also an effective and more potent method but need around two weeks before the first improvements are visible.

How much does teeth whitening cost?

Since teeth whitening is largely a cosmetic procedure, prices will vary from practice to practice and are typically an out of pocket expense. The NHS will cover whitening treatments in some cases, like following nerve death.
Ask your dentist or dental hygienist about the cost of their whitening treatment options so you can make an informed decision about your treatment!

How long does the teeth whitening treatment last?

Teeth whitening is not permanent. On average, professional teeth whitening treatments will last for around a few months up to a maximum of three years – it all depends on your daily eating and drinking habits as well as your oral hygiene routine.

If you have stained or yellowed teeth, you don’t have to keep hiding your smile! At-home and professional whitening treatments are available at a range of costs to re-gift you the confidence you have been lacking.

Author Bio:

Broseley Dental Practice Ltd. is a modern Private and NHS dentist in Broseley, Shropshire. The Principal Dentist, Dr Manoj Joshi has over a decade’s experience and is committed to providing quality care to patients of all ages.