Enamel is on the surface of every tooth and it has a natural hue of white. However, the underlying
Yellow Teeth
This is the most common color of teeth. A light-yellow color indicates a strong healthy smile. The natural color of your dentin, the layer of tiny tubules that lies beneath your enamel and connects to the dental nerve in each tooth, is yellow.
In spite of our obsession with whiter teeth, most healthy teeth tend to have a light yellow hue. The outer layer of your teeth – the enamel – is a blue-white color. The middle layer – the dentin – is a thick tissue with a slightly yellow tinge.
However, they aren't supposed to be purely white either. To determine how white your teeth should be, look at the whites of your eyes. Those are a good reference to how your teeth should look like. If your teeth are significantly yellower than your eyes, then you may need to check in with your dentist.
Healthy teeth are naturally an off-white or slightly yellow hue, so don't be alarmed if they're not blindingly white. But if you would like to achieve a brighter smile, always contact your dentist for treatment – it's the safest option for your grin!
It's a cosmetic thing
The best thing to know about yellow teeth is that it doesn't signal a medical problem. Yellow teeth can be as healthy as white ones. Yellowing is not only a common side-effect of stains from food and beverages, but also a natural part of the aging process.
If your teeth are more of an off-white or yellowish-white, that doesn't necessarily mean they're unhealthy. That could just be their natural state! Contrary to popular opinion, teeth the bright white of piano keys is not in fact the norm.
The fact is, not all teeth respond to whitening. Furthermore, it is important to understand what whitening products you use can really make all the difference. Let's consider certain things that might keep your teeth whitening treatment from working.
The average shade for a tooth is A3, this is considered a normal colour and around 70% of the population have natural teeth which are within this range. A B1 shade is considerably lighter than A3 and is generally considered the lightest naturally occurring shade.
Even with daily brushing, certain foods and drinks can cause stained teeth. For example, frequently drinking coffee, tea and wine can all lead to yellow teeth. In addition, even regular brushing cannot always combat yellow teeth caused by smoking cigarettes.
Some people still have naturally whiter teeth than others. Maybe it's a result of good oral hygiene, maybe it's just good genetics, or maybe they're just young enough that their teeth haven't started yellowing yet. Unfortunately, all of our teeth tend to yellow and discolor with age.
Non-White or Yellow Teeth are Unhealthy
Teeth whitening treatments usually work by stripping or entering the outer enamel layer, which makes teeth weaker if done many times. So, more often than not, yellow teeth are actually stronger than pearly white ones–so long as they're cleaned regularly.
There are a number of ways that you can whiten your teeth if they are or have already yellowed; these are a mix of over-the-counter toothpastes, home whitening products or, in some cases, mechanical plaque removal by a dentist or hygienist.
You might wonder what the whitest shade of teeth is? One of the whitest shade is known as b1. If you're looking for a more natural shade of white we suggest you compare a1 to b1 tooth color. A1 resembles a darker shade of white than b1.
Make your teeth look whiter – Darker shades like royal/navy blue, purple, and even black can make the color of your teeth appear whiter. Even so, be aware that colors like dark green and brown can look like food.
Some of the most common causes of tooth discoloration include drinking beverages such as coffee, tea, and wine. These substances get into the enamel of your teeth and can cause long-term discoloration. Smoking: Smoking is one of the top causes of yellow or brown teeth, and stains from smoking can be stubborn.
A1 vs B1 Tooth Color
Logically, one might think that A1 is the whitest tooth shade because A is the first letter in the alphabet. However, the B1 tooth shade is actually the lightest, followed by A1. This is by virtue of its coloring (reddish yellow) as opposed to the coloring of A teeth (reddish brown).
The ideal shade for your teeth is one that is similar to the whites of your eyes. Use that shade as a measure; Once you've reached it, you can stop, and focus on maintenance. We guarantee your teeth will be plenty white enough at that point.
Many people perceive yellow teeth to be unattractive. This is likely due to the idea that yellow teeth are dirty or old. People with yellow teeth are commonly embarrassed or feel insecure about their smiles. Teeth whitening treatment may help patients with yellow teeth gain confidence in their smiles.
Brushing your teeth diligently helps remove harmful plaque and bacteria from your teeth but isn't effective whiten them.
Dentin absorbs food color and in turn , causes your teeth to become different shades of not-white. Certain antibiotics, such as tetracycline and amoxicillin can also affect the shade of your teeth, as well as certain medications for allergies and high blood pressure.
Highly pigmented foods like blueberries and tomato sauce and beverages, such as soda, energy drinks and fruit juice can stain kids' teeth, making them look yellow. To avoid this, have kids rinse their mouth out with water after eating or drinking anything pigmented and be diligent about brushing.
A Matter of Genetics
Contrary to popular belief, naturally yellow teeth are not necessarily a sign of poor oral health. They may simply be an indication of naturally thin enamel and more dentin showing through.
Habits and brushing
Be careful however, as brushing your teeth too harshly means you run the risk of eroding away your own enamel, which will reveal more of the dentin layer of your teeth and lead to discolouration.
In fact, both men and women commonly find yellow teeth a turn-off at best and a deal breaker at worst. Studies have actually shown that both men and women find yellow teeth a worse characteristic in a potential date than spotty skin or bad table manners.