Help! My Teeth are Yellow

Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. If your teeth are yellow, you might feel less than confident about your smile. You might even try to hide your teeth because you feel self-conscious about their color.

Several factors can lead to yellow teeth, from your dietary habits to having naturally darker dentin inside your teeth. But regardless of the reason for your tooth color, you can get white teeth again. In this blog, Dana Samet, DDS, of Dental Art of South Bay explains more about why your teeth might be yellow and how you can restore your smile to one that you’re proud to show.

Causes of yellow teeth

Some of the most common reasons teeth can get yellow include the following:

Certain foods and drinks

Consuming certain foods or drinks can play a major role in discoloring teeth. Some of the most common things that can stain teeth include the following:

• Coffee and tea
• Red wine
• Soy sauce
• Soft drinks
• Food dyes, such as what you might find in candy or popsicles
• Some fruits, such as berries

In general, if a food or drink can stain your clothes when you spill it, it can also stain your teeth. Brushing your teeth and rinsing with water can help prevent some of the stains from taking hold, but doing this may not eliminate stains entirely.

Smoking

Not only is smoking bad for your health, but it’s also really bad for your teeth. Smoking and using other tobacco products is by far one of the surest ways to stain your teeth — and skin — because of the tar.

Poor dental hygiene habits

Poor dental hygiene habits can also lead to stained teeth. You should ideally brush your teeth at least twice a day, if not after every meal, and floss your teeth daily as well. Falling short in these areas can really take a toll on the appearance of your smile.

Medications

Certain medications can also stain teeth. These medications include antibiotics, such as tetracycline and doxycycline, as well as some antihistamines and antipsychotics.

Fluorosis

Using fluoride in small doses — such as brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride-infused toothpaste — is fine. However, if you’re accidentally exposed to too much fluoride, it can cause discolored spots on your teeth, which is known as fluorosis. This most often occurs in children before age 8, making it essential that you supervise them while they brush their teeth.

Dentin showing through

Dentin is one of the major components of your teeth. The outside layer of your teeth is the enamel, and the second layer is the dentin. Dentin is typically gray or yellow in color, and if it shows through, it can make your teeth look darker. Some people have naturally darker dentin from birth, which can make it difficult to get a truly white smile. Furthermore, the enamel can thin with age, which can make the dentin more apparent. 

How to get rid of yellow teeth

There are some things you can do at home to brighten your smile if you’re not already doing so. Brush your teeth twice daily with a whitening toothpaste, avoid highly staining foods and drinks, and quit smoking if you smoke. If you already do these things, Dr. Samet can help you get a dramatically whiter smile.

Teeth whitening can make your teeth many shades whiter. And if you want even more dramatic results, or if teeth whitening doesn’t help, Dr. Samet can give you veneers. Veneers are thin porcelain shells that go over your natural teeth. Veneers can give you a bright, gleaming smile. 

If you want a smile you can be proud of, Dr. Samet can help. To learn more, book an appointment over the phone with Dental Art of South Bay today.