5 Possible Reasons That Your Teeth Are Turning Yellow

Are you your teeth looking more antique yellow than eggshell white these days? Yellow teeth can serve to be an embarrassing problem that is impossible to hide. Here five common culprits for the problem as well as a few tips to help your brighten your smile.

Foods and Drinks

Many of the things you eat and drink every day can stain smiles. For example, dark sodas, tea, red wine, coffee, soy sauce and even blueberries can all give teeth a yellow or brownish tint. If cutting caffeine isn’t an option for you and you can’t imagine a plate of pasta without a glass of Chianti, brushing soon after meals or coffee breaks can help remove the buildup of staining foods or drinks.

Tobacco Use

Tobacco products, whether cigarettes, cigars or chewing tobacco, can turn tooth enamel yellow. What’s more, using tobacco can slow healing time for oral surgeries and may even lead to gum disease and oral cancer, so kicking the habit is one of the best things you can do to improve your overall oral health.

Poor Dental Hygiene

Poor oral health habits can lead to a buildup of tartar and plaque that makes it easier for stains from foods, drinks or tobacco to accumulate on teeth. Regular brushing, flossing and visits to the dentist for routine cleanings can reduce tartar and plaque and fade food and drink stains before they turn teeth yellow.

Age

Dentin is the yellowish core of the tooth that has tiny openings leading to nerves and cells inside. As the enamel on your teeth wears down with age, more of the dentin beneath it will show through, which can result in teeth that are not only yellow, but sensitive to hot and cold temperatures.

Other Issues

Other common reasons for yellow teeth include heredity, overexposure to fluoride, exposure to certain antibiotics at an early age or underlying health issues. For example, yellowed teeth can be a sign of celiac disease or certain nutritional deficiencies, according to MediResource Inc.

Brushing and flossing regularly are the easiest ways to keep teeth white, along with proper flossing to ensure that teeth are healthy and bacteria-free.  If you are unhappy with the shine of your smile, contact our dentist today.  We can recommend whitening products and procedures, as well as identify and treat the core cause of your yellow teeth!