Most people associate yellow teeth with a failure to stick to a routine of daily brushing. However, even those who believe that they practice good dental hygiene may find themselves with yellow teeth and wonder what is causing the unsightly discolouration.
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.
Brushing style
Brushing your teeth just once a day isn’t always enough to stop you from developing yellow teeth. Ideally, you should brush your teeth twice a day and make sure that your technique allows thorough cleaning of all of your teeth. It is also smart to add dental floss to your routine, as without it you are failing to clean several surfaces of your teeth.
Aging and genetics
As you grow older, the outer layer of your tooth enamel can slowly wear away, and the yellow dentin underneath can sometimes be seen. Yellow teeth can also be hereditary, as some people simply inherit thicker tooth enamel than others.
Diseases and medications
If you have certain nutritional deficiencies, they may change your tooth color and cause yellow teeth. In addition, undergoing treatment for cancer (especially head and neck radiation) can lead to yellow teeth, as can taking anti-psychotics or drugs that treat high blood pressure. The antibiotics tetracycline and doxycycline may also change tooth color, and are especially prone to causing yellow teeth in younger children.
Treating yellow teeth
Firstly, it is smart to avoid as many of the above causes as you can. For example, stop smoking, reduce coffee consumption, and brush your teeth more than once a day. However, it is also worth noting that your dentist can do a lot to help when it comes to yellow teeth. For example, you can choose to undergo a teeth-whitening procedure, which can lighten the surface of your teeth by several shades. You can also opt for veneers, which fit over your yellow teeth and improve the appearance of your smile
