Evaluating Your Habits: 5 Reasons Why Teeth Turn Yellow

There’s nothing more beautiful than a bright, white smile. However, many people struggle with discoloration. Stained or yellow tooth enamel can make a person feel self-conscious about flashing their smile to others. Luckily, by making a few lifestyle changes, anyone can transform their dingy teeth into a movie-star smile. Here are the most common reasons for yellow teeth and how you can give your smile a makeover.

1. Specific Foods and Beverages

Everything that goes into your mouth will make contact with your teeth. While most foods brush away with ease, some leave behind noticeable stains. Those high in tannin can turn your teeth yellow over time. The most common culprits are tomato sauce, balsamic vinegar, and soy sauce. Guilty beverages include coffee, tea, cola, and red wine.

No, you don’t have to give up your favorite foods and drinks just to have a white smile. Try drinking beverages through a straw to reduce contact with tooth enamel. After eating a potentially staining meal, be sure to rinse your mouth with water.

2. Medications and Illnesses

Certain medications can cause yellow teeth. For example, children who take antibiotics, such as tetracycline and doxycycline, often have permanent discoloration. Cancer patients undergoing neck radiation and chemotherapy often complain about yellow teeth. Even medications to treat asthma or high blood pressure may darken tooth enamel.

Anyone who develops yellow teeth after taking a new medication should speak with their doctor. While this type of staining may be permanent, making an appointment with the best dentist near me is a good option. A dentist may be able to restore your discolored teeth with veneers or crowns.

3. Smoking Cigars and Cigarettes

When it comes to yellow teeth, cigars and cigarettes are often to blame. Although it’s not smoked, chewing tobacco also has a reputation for causing discoloration. Tobacco, tar, and nicotine can leave behind brown and yellow stains. Even the occasional smoker may notice their teeth darkening.

Smokers who want to revive their teeth should consider quitting. Not only does smoking damage tooth enamel, but it’s also a leading cause of lung cancer. In fact, 80-90 percent of lung cancer deaths are linked to cigarette smoking. Quitting reduces this risk. Professional teeth whitening and a dental cleaning can help erase tobacco stains.

4. Overexposure to Fluoride

Fluoride helps prevent cavities. It’s especially helpful in reducing the risk of cavities in young children. That’s why it’s often added to toothpaste and mouthwash. Many municipalities also include small levels of fluoride in drinking water. However, excessive use may cause teeth to turn yellow. Dentists call this type of discoloration fluorosis.

The yellow and brown staining from fluorosis is cosmetic. Even though condition doesn’t harm the tooth structure, professional dental treatments may be needed. Dentists may suggest teeth whitening, veneers, or bonding to help mask the stains.

5. Inadequate Oral Hygiene

Poor oral hygiene habits lead to yellow teeth. Forgetting to brush after meals and not flossing are usually to blame. After eating, a sticky substance called plaque begins to develop. It only takes plaque 48 hours for it to harden into tartar. It’s almost impossible to remove tartar at home, and it can make your teeth appear yellow.

Removing plaque after every meal will prevent tartar from forming. Tartar often forms at the gum-line and between teeth. Remember to brush at least twice a day, and don’t forget to floss. A dental hygienist can remove hardened tartar during your regular cleaning.

Not everyone gets yellow teeth for the same reason. It’s important to determine what caused your staining before starting a treatment plan. A dentist can help you choose the best course of action to restore your smile.