Everybody wishes to look presentable, confident, and attractive to others. And your smile plays a big role in how confident you feel about yourself.
Do you maintain regular oral hygiene to ensure that your smile shines through? Do you still worry that yellow teeth may act as a dampener on your looks?
The yellowing of teeth can affect your eagerness to smile, your confidence, and your willingness to be social. However, you are not alone, and this is not an untreatable problem.
Many options are available to get rid of the yellowness of your teeth, some right at your home and others at the dentist’s.
Let’s look at what causes the yellowing of teeth, and how to get rid of the yellowness.
What Causes The Yellowing of Teeth?
Your teeth could start yellowing due to a variety of external and internal reasons. The most common reasons are:
1. Plaque Build-Up: Plaque is a sticky layer of food residue and bacteria that accumulates on the surface of teeth and gives your teeth a yellow appearance. Plaque build-up is a result of bad dental hygiene.
2. Enamel Thinning With Age: The topmost white layer of the tooth is known as the enamel. Under it is a layer known as dentin. With age, the enamel thins and exposes more dentin which is duller and may make your teeth look yellow.
3. Food/Drink Staining: Certain foods and drinks such as beetroot, tomatoes, berries, curry spices, coffee, tea, and cola can cause teeth staining, when consumed frequently.
4. Tobacco Use: Nicotine from using tobacco products or smoking can leave yellowish stains on your teeth.
5. Medications: Certain antibiotics (tetracycline and doxycycline in children below age 8), mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride, antihistamines (drugs that treat common cold, influenza, and allergies), antipsychotic drugs, and blood pressure medications can cause teeth discolouration.
6. Trauma: Any physical trauma to your teeth, for example in an accident, can crack your tooth’s enamel and damage the tooth's interior, causing reduced blood flow to the tooth and discolouration. Mouth trauma in children younger than 8 can disturb enamel formation and result in yellowish teeth.
How to Get Rid of Yellow Teeth?
Start with factors behind the yellowing of teeth that you can control.
1. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, and floss every day. This is important to prevent plaque build-up on your teeth.
2. Limit your consumption of highly pigmented foods and drinks that cause the yellowing of teeth. If you do eat or drink such items, remember to clean your teeth afterwards.
3. Quit smoking. If smoking is the reason for your teeth turning yellow, it may help if you quit smoking.
4. Use teeth-whitening products such as toothpastes, strips, rinses, and tray-based teeth whiteners that may be available at pharmacies or at your dentist’s. It is advisable to consult your dentist before you use these products.
If none of these home remedies work, your dentist may suggest the following options:
5. Opt for professional dental cleaning and teeth whitening, once in at least six months. These are the most effective methods of removing any plaque that has built up on your teeth and caused them to look yellow.
6. Consider dental bonding, crowns, or veneers. In dental bonding, a white resin is applied to your tooth and hardened with a special light to enhance the colour of your teeth.
Dental crowns (restoration caps for your teeth) of a lighter colour can be put over the affected teeth in order to improve the appearance of the tooth.
Dental veneers are also an aesthetic approach to improve the appearance of your teeth. They are designed to conceal the flaws of your teeth, such as discoloration.
So you see, many options are available for getting rid of yellowed teeth and you need not feel embarrassed or ashamed of them anymore. If the problem persists, consult your dentist for further guidance.
Disclaimer: This article is written by the Practitioner for informational and educational purposes only. The content presented on this page should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. Please "DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE" and seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns. Practo will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.