We all dream of the perfect pearly whites. That attractive, million-dollar Hollywood smile, however, can be very difficult to achieve. If you believe that you can maintain a flawless smile naturally through the years, think again! A number of factors can contribute to yellowing teeth.
Teeth discolouration isn’t necessarily linked to your oral hygiene practices. In fact, you could be a stellar brusher and flosser who still doesn’t have that amazing, bright white smile. What are the main causes of yellow teeth and are these easy to address? Here are some of the most important essentials to consider.
Main Causes of Yellow Teeth
If you’d like to find out what the main causes of yellow teeth are, check out this Instagram video we made addressing this issue:
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Some of these causes are completely natural like aging or consuming certain kinds of food.
As you grow older, the colour of the tooth enamel is going to change. You’ve been using your teeth for decades and as a result, the enamel has become thinner. This means that the colour of the tooth interior (the dentin) is starting to show through. Even if you brush and floss more than what’s recommended, you’ll still experience this effect with the passage of time.
Just as naturally, some foods can colour the enamel from the outside.
Food that are high in tannins and natural colourants like coffee, tea and red wine can stain teeth. Teeth can also yellow due to smoking or tobacco chewing. Research suggests that smoking is one of the top causes of yellowing teeth. Some other causes of yellow teeth include the following:
- Poor oral hygiene: we need to talk about this elephant in the room. If you’re not diligent with brushing and flossing, you’ll potentially lose the pearliness of your smile.
- Medical conditions and medications: people undergoing chemotherapy for certain kinds of cancer have been known to experience yellowing teeth. Prescription medications like high blood pressure and asthma pharmaceuticals can also contribute to discolouration. There’s also some evidence that tetracycline antibiotics can change the colour of teeth.
- Excessive fluoride exposure: you probably know that fluoride is important for your teeth but too much of a good thing isn’t always beneficial. A fluoride excess can contribute to yellowish or even brown build-up on the teeth called fluorosis.
- Genetics: as difficult as this may seem to believe, the yellowing of teeth is simply more likely to happen to some people. In that instance, genetics or even genetic conditions could be factors. Teeth discoloration may be an issue that runs in the family.
As you can see, teeth may discolour for a variety of reasons. In some cases, you can’t do a lot to prevent it from happening. You can, however, employ a dental procedure with your aesthetic dental clinic that will restore the original whiteness of your smile.
Getting Back Your Pearly Smile
So, what does it take to get your smile back to it’s beautiful pearly glory?
First and foremost, you should understand that yellowing teeth is an issue that can fixed and you should not wait to address. In fact, you should fight back. Dental procedures have been developed to address even the most serious of problems.
There are many products and DIY recipes (please don’t use baking soda on your teeth!) out there developed for at-home use but if you’re seeking reliable, noticeable and lasting improvements, head on to a cosmetic dental clinic like Orchard Scotts Dental. At Orchard Scotts Dental, we offer three teeth whitening options that are part of our Smile Makeover system.
Beauty White is a treatment we have developed for those interested in slight whitening. The best aspect of this treatment is that it’s designed for at-home use. You will be provided with whitening gel and custom-made trays. Place some gel in the trays and wear them for about 30 minutes each day. Over the course of two weeks, you’ll notice somewhat whiter teeth.
Anyone looking for a more pronounced effect should pursue the Glamour White procedure. It combines in-office and at-home whitening for even better results. At the dental clinic, we will use a whitening gel and a special light to give you faster results and a few shades of whiter teeth.
Finally, the Pageant White product is the ultimate choice to get the most impeccable smile. You’ll benefit from two in-office whitening sessions, as well as the at-home whitening option available with the other two packages.
When you come to the clinic, we’ll consult you and suggest the product that makes the most sense for your needs. A professional assessment of the discolouration degree is the only way to determine exactly what approach is going to work.
Once you have your teeth brightened, you’ll get to enjoy the results for numerous years (especially if you kick harmful habits like smoking to the curb). Some people may need an additional teeth whitening procedure every few years to maintain the beautiful outcome.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have additional questions about dealing with yellow teeth or if you’d like to schedule an assessment appointment. We’d be more than happy to restore the brightness of your smile.