Help! My Teeth Are Yellow
Mar 01, 2024
More than half of Americans feel self-conscious flashing their smile. The last thing they want the world to see is yellow, stained tooth enamel. If you’re among this population, we can help.
As family dentists specializing in cosmetic and general dentistry, our team at Tropical Dental Care in Tomball, Texas, offers comprehensive solutions that can whiten dull and yellowed teeth.
Read on to learn more about why teeth discolor and what you can do about it.
Your teeth discolor because of three major reasons. Each requires a different whitening approach. With a quick oral exam, we can determine if your yellow teeth are a product of:
When stain molecules accumulate in the microscopic surface channels of your enamel, you end up with extrinsic discoloration. It tends to make teeth look yellow or brown. Another external factor that can make your teeth yellow? Plaque buildup.
While most enamel-staining residue is left by dark drinks and foods like red wine, coffee, and blueberries, the tar and nicotine chemicals in cigarettes and other forms of tobacco can also cause surface staining.
Another external factor that can make your teeth yellow is plaque buildup, which can be a result of poor hygiene or haphazard attention to professional cleanings.
Intrinsic discoloration develops when something causes the dentin to darken. Your dentin is the inner tooth structure below your enamel. But your teeth won’t really look yellow. This type of discoloration tends to make your teeth appear grayer than normal.
Certain prescription drugs, like antihistamines and blood pressure medications, can temporarily darken your tooth dentin.
Dental trauma that kills a tooth’s nerve root can also cause permanent intrinsic discoloration in the affected tooth. Examples of such trauma include any blows to the face or notable bumps to the jaw from a fall.
As you age, your teeth undergo natural changes that affect their intrinsic and extrinsic aspects. White surface enamel becomes thinner as the darker underlying dentin layer becomes thicker, often making teeth appear less white — and more yellow — over the years.
In most cases of yellowed or browned teeth, the cause comes from extrinsic factors that are typically pretty easy to address.
Usually, yellow teeth are a product of one or more of the following factors:
Stains can build up quickly when you don’t brush and floss as thoroughly as you should. Insufficient oral hygiene habits also promote the buildup of plaque, a thin, sticky coat of enamel-damaging bacteria that’s initially invisible.
But when you skip your twice-yearly dental cleaning and exam, plaque builds up and takes on a yellow hue. It also traps more stain-causing residues (not to mention cavity-causing bacteria).
The effects of surface staining becomes that much more noticeable as you get older, too, making your smile yellow as a result.
Schedule an appointment at Tropical Dental Care and uncover all the contributing causes of your yellowed teeth. We gather the information we need to take a comprehensive treatment approach. Your plan may include:
If it’s been more than six months since your last professional dental cleaning, having one of our skilled hygienists clear away stubborn dental plaque, remove calcified tartar, and polish your teeth can go a long way in brightening your smile.
If deep-set stains cast a yellow hue on your teeth, an in-office teeth whitening treatment can restore your pearly whites.
We offer an advanced, clinical-strength peroxide gel that effectively lifts stains without causing excessive tooth sensitivity. In just one visit, this treatment can wipe away years of yellowing residues and leave you with a bright, luminous smile that's several shades whiter.
Bonding, crowns, and veneers are effective solutions for whitening teeth and enhancing smiles, especially those affected by intrinsic staining. Bonding involves applying a tooth-colored resin to cover stains or fill gaps, resulting in a brighter appearance.
Crowns, which are like a cap for a tooth, may be made of porcelain or ceramic materials matched to the desired shade, effectively concealing discoloration.
Veneers, thin shells bonded to the front surface of teeth, are custom-made to improve color, shape, and size, providing a flawless, white smile.
A few dietary adjustments can reduce the rate at which your teeth yellow and help keep a newly brightened smile white. For example, cutting down on tea, coffee, and red wine can help reduce staining — as can rinsing your mouth with water after drinking these beverages.
If your enamel appears to be thinning, using a fluoridated mouthwash and limiting contact with acidic foods and beverages can help strengthen and preserve your remaining enamel.
A dingy, yellow smile can make you feel self-conscious. Don’t just hide it. Get a whiter, brighter smile with treatments that we offer here at Tropical Dental Care. Call today or use this website to schedule a consultation.