As we age, the outer enamel layer gradually wears down showing more of the soft
Dental Plaque and Tartar can Turn Your Teeth Yellow at the Gum Line. Dental plaque is a soft and sticky film that regularly builds up on your teeth. Sometimes a thin layer of plaque appears clear, but turns yellow as it accumulates.
Natural Enamel Thickness & Translucency
However, the underlying dentin layer has a slightly yellowish color. This yellowish hue shows through the enamel in almost everyone, but more so for those with naturally thinner or more translucent enamel. So your yellow teeth may be perfectly normal due to your genetics!
Sometimes, a tooth may appear more discolored than the surrounding teeth because it has become stained. Tooth staining can occur due to the foods and drinks we consume and certain medications we take. If one tooth is slightly discolored, it may simply mean the tooth has a stain.
Habits. 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.
Ageing, genetics and health
Your overall health is also a factor in determining the colour of your teeth – in particular, issues such as nutritional deficiencies and treatments for cancer are likely to render your teeth yellow, regardless of your brushing and care.
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.
If your child is about 6-7 years old and their permanent teeth have started to erupt, you may notice that their permanent teeth look quite a bit more yellow than their baby teeth. Good news: this is normal.
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.
Although it takes years for teeth to take on a yellow hue, you may not have noticed this slow process taking place. You see your teeth every day and probably didn't notice the slight discoloration occurring. Thankfully, yellow teeth aren't forever.
A calcium deficiency can lead to teeth discoloration as well as tooth loss. However, this type of vitamin deficiency is rare because most people get plenty of calcium through their diet. Some good ways to consume calcium are dairy products and leafy greens.
Few tooth whitening products come with upper age limits. If you're older than 18, and your mouth is in good health, you can use almost any solution to help you find a brighter, whiter smile. But many older people have dental health issues that can stand in the way of tooth whitening, including: Trauma.
Believe it or not, it is perfectly normal. Adult teeth, because of their composition, do have a different tone than baby teeth and often appear yellow, especially when they erupt right next to brilliant white baby teeth.
Yellow teeth are usually nothing to worry about in kids, but they can also sometimes indicate a cavity or another oral health issue. So if you're not sure why your child's teeth are yellow, it's best to see a children's dentist in Lombard like Dr. Brett Blacher right away.
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.
Consuming Certain Foods and Drinks
Other teeth-staining foods include coffee, citrus fruits and juices, soft drinks, teas, berries, tomato-based sauces, curry, balsamic vinegar, and soy sauce. Ingredients in these foods can seep into your enamel (the outermost covering of your teeth) and cause discoloration.
Brushing your teeth diligently helps remove harmful plaque and bacteria from your teeth but isn't effective whiten them.
If teeth whitening does not work for you, it might be because of the product you are using, the type of tooth stains or spots, or strength of the bleaching gel. Product type – Whitening toothpaste does not remove deeply embedded stains.
As we said above, it's perfectly normal for teeth to turn yellow due to age, diet, or lifestyle choices. Yellow teeth are not unhealthier than white teeth. However, yellowing can be a sign of poor oral hygiene or infection in the mouth.
For about two to six weeks, you can use dentist-recommended whitening toothpaste and brush twice a day. You can use a certified whitening mouthwash which usually takes about three months to produce visible results. Whitening strips are the most compelling in-house treatments that last up to six months.
Whitening yellowing teeth can be achieved through the use of bleaching trays or whitening toothpaste. Most whitening toothpaste brands have low-concentration bleach in them. This approach can work but takes an extended period of time to show a change in the color of your teeth.
Brushing your teeth is meant to remove harmful bacteria and plaque but not to whiten them. As recommended by your dentist, brushing twice a day is vital because it prevents cavities and tooth decay. Brushing alone will not whiten your teeth, though, and even whitening toothpaste only has a minimal effect on your teeth.
Teeth Grinding
While it is a common response to increased tension and stress, it can cause a lot of your enamel to wear away and expose the yellow-colored dentin beneath it. Try common prevention techniques, such as stress reduction, if you think you may have an unconscious tooth grinding habit.