As we age, the outer enamel layer gradually wears down showing more of the soft dentine layer beneath. Enamel is translucent, while dentine has a naturally yellow hue. Enamel wears down faster if you regularly consume acidic food or drink or if you grind or clench your teeth (a condition known as bruxism).
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!
Genetics. In some cases, you can blame your parents for your yellow teeth. Genetic disposition can determine the thickness of your outer tooth enamel. Just behind this outer layer is your dentin layer, which is naturally yellow in color.
Genetics Can Affect the Appearance of the Teeth
And in fact, genetics can impact the color of a person's teeth. Thicker, whiter enamel can run in families, just as more transparent tooth enamel can be inherited. Many people have genetically yellow teeth that don't respond well to store-bought whiteners or toothpastes.
Non-White or Yellow Teeth are Unhealthy
So, more often than not, yellow teeth are actually stronger than pearly white ones–so long as they're cleaned regularly.
Yellow or discolored teeth can be unattractive causing teeth to look prematurely aged, or dirty. Patients with discolored teeth may feel embarrassed of their smile and hide their smile in photos or while laughing. White, bright smiles can help patients feel more confident in professional and personal interactions.
Most of the extrinsic discoloration is reversible especially by reversing the cause of yellowing. It also depends upon the duration of discolorations. Some of the discolorations are too old and stubborn and need special teeth whitening techniques to cure.
A good rule of thumb when determining how white your teeth should be is to look at the whites of your eyes. Whether whitening at home or undergoing treatment by a professional dentist, you should be aiming for a shade of white similar to that of your eyes.
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.
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.
Thick dentin plus thin enamel is what causes these teeth to appear more yellow than others. So as the enamel thins on all your teeth, these will always look the darkest. You no longer need to worry that you are doing a bad job brushing, it is all genetics.
Their Teeth May Have Thin Enamel
This is because enamel is whitish in color, while the layer of dentin underneath the enamel looks much more yellow. If the enamel is thin, the yellow dentin below it can show through more clearly, which will make your child's teeth appear discolored.
If you have porcelain veneers, dentures, crowns, or dental implants, or if you have undergone cosmetic bonding or have composite tooth-colored fillings, those teeth will not respond well to any whitening procedure.
Many of the methods listed above can be effective for whitening your teeth, including oil pulling, using baking soda or hydrogen peroxide, eating a healthy diet, and limiting consumption of foods or beverages that stain teeth.
Yes, most stains can easily be lifted from the teeth with professional whitening treatments. The strength of our treatments help patients transform their smile to a dazzling white! It is important to note that internal stains are more difficult to remove.
If your teeth and gums aren't in the best shape or if you've had a lot of previous dental work, both issues can affect your results with traditional teeth whitening treatments. You won't be able to whiten either porcelain crowns or most commonly used dental bonding materials.
Have you ever wondered how every celebrity is able to get their teeth so dazzlingly white? Cosmetic dentistry is the answer. This field of dentistry focuses on improving the appearance of the patient's smile. To do this, a cosmetic dentist might target the size, shape, alignment, or whiteness of the patient's teeth.
Yellow stains on your teeth are often on the outermost layer of your tooth and can commonly be corrected with whitening methods such as our Zoom Teeth Whitening services. For the best results, getting your teeth professionally whitened is the best way to make your yellow teeth white again.
Some medical conditions may impact the tooth enamel, which can lead to changes in the color of your teeth. These conditions include metabolic diseases, calcium deficiency, liver disease, rickets, eating disorders, and celiac disease.
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.
Even though your yellow teeth are nothing to be ashamed of, you can totally whiten them with the correct whitening method. If you want to know the causes of tooth discoloration and how to whiten yellow teeth, keep reading to learn more.
All in all, yellow teeth don't necessarily equal unhealthy or weakened teeth. It may just be the natural color of your dentin shining through.
Having yellow teeth can be embarrassing, but doesn't necessarily mean that your teeth are unclean or unhealthy. Rather than worrying about your dental cleaning routine, you should instead focus on the products that you eat, drink and smoke.
If your child is between the ages of 6-13, their baby (primary) teeth will start to fall out, and their adult teeth will erupt. Often, their new adult teeth may have a yellowish color, especially compared to their remaining baby teeth.