Why Are My Teeth So Yellow?

Have you ever looked in the mirror and wondered how your teeth got so yellow or stained? Well if you have, you’re not alone, many of us have wonder the same exact thing. Since your teeth can yellow over time, it can be easily overlooked. Fortunately, yellowing and stained teeth aren’t a sign of any serious medical conditions. As disheartening as it may seem to lose your once bright, pearly whites, you’ll be glad to know you can get it back. Before you can do that though, you must find out what’s causing the yellowing, and how you can best avoid or limit your exposer to those things.

• Aging- As you age, the white protective coating on your teeth called enamel slowly fades away. This and the daily use of your teeth can slowly lead to revealing the natural color of dentine, which is yellow.
• Genetics- It’s very much possible that you inherited enamel that has more of a yellowish tint rather than white.
• Tobacco use- Tobacco products, such as chew tobacco and cigarettes are known to stain teeth, along with causing a long list of other health complications.
• Medication- Certain types of medication, such as doxycycline and tetracycline, can darken the teeth of children that under the age eight. Other types of medications such as antihistamines, antipsychotics and drugs used for high blood pressure may also cause discoloration of your teeth.
• Illness- A less common cause of tooth discoloration can be caused from a disease that effects enamel, or a treatment for a disease, like chemotherapy and/or radiation used to treat cancer. In this case, instead of yellow, the discoloration would be more of a brownish color.
• Poor Oral Hygiene- When you don’t routinely brush, floss and use mouthwash to remove plaque buildup and tartar you teeth, you teeth can be come yellow or discolored.
• Certain Drinks and Food- Coffee, tea, soda and wine are all beverages that can darken teeth. As for food, apples and potatoes, as well as a few other types of fruits and vegetables can also stain teeth.

Take Action Against Yellow Teeth

Unfortunately, unless you’ve found the fountain of youth, there’s not much you can do to reverse the effects of aging, and what you inherited genetically is also something that can’t be changed. Same goes for certain illnesses and treatments, there really isn’t much you can personally do to reverse the effects. When it comes to stains caused by food, drinks or tobacco use, it’s up to you to avoid them as much as possible.

In addition to your daily oral hygiene routine, you can try and use over the counter products, such as whitening strips, to help brighten your teeth a few shades. If you would like to learn more about them, you can ask you family dentist.

Speaking of your dentist, they can provide you with a custom teeth bleaching kit that you’re able to take home. Take home teeth bleaching kits can whiten you teeth a few shades after a few weeks or months. Most dentists also offering in-office teeth whitening procedures that can whiten your teeth up to ten shades, within one office visit.

There are many options to treat yellow teeth, ranging from whitening strips to dentists trips, so there’s no reason you shouldn’t be smiling!

If you’re sick of having yellow teeth and would like to know which treatment options you would be a good candidate for, contact Dr. Gary Alhadef DDS at 214-368-2434 to schedule a consultation today! Or visit www.dallascosmeticdental.com for information regarding teeth whitening.