Are your teeth not as white as before? If the prevalence of tooth whitening products is any indication, Americans are generally more concerned about their dental appearance. Fortunately, yellow teeth aren’t a permanent condition, and several effective ways exist to reverse and prevent discoloration.
However, understanding what causes yellow teeth is the first step to preventing discoloration.
What Causes Teeth To Turn Yellow?
Causes of teeth discoloration include:
- Foods and Drinks. Tea, coffee, colas, wines, and a section of starchy foods such as potatoes or pasta can stimulate conditions causing teeth staining (discoloration).
- Tobacco Usage. Smoking or chewing tobacco can also stain your teeth.
- Bad Dental Hygiene. Failure to brush, floss, or sufficiently rinse your mouth with clean water leaves stain-producing substances to lodge in between the teeth, gradually causing discoloration.
- Excessive Sugar Intake. Bacteria that eat sugar in your mouth can also erode teeth enamel. Eating excess sugar and failing to clean it exposes your dentin and increases the risks of your teeth becoming yellow.
- Certain Medication. Antibiotics such as tetracycline and doxycycline have been shown to cause teeth staining in children, especially those eight years old and younger. Furthermore, mouthwashes or rinses containing chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride can cause teeth staining.
- Diseases. Diseases preventing normal tooth enamel and dentin development can also cause teeth discoloration.
- Treatment options. Treatment options such as head and neck radiation, as well as chemo, can also cause teeth discoloration.
- Dental materials. Materials used in dentistry, like amalgam restoration, mostly silver sulfide-containing materials, can also discolor your teeth.
- Genetics. The enamel size varies according to brightness and thickness and from one person to another. You will likely have yellow teeth if your actual genetics and family history prove the existence of the same.
- Aging Process. The more you age, the more the enamel’s outer layer tears away, thus revealing the dentin’s natural color.
Though rare, trauma from falls can disturb enamel formation in kids whose teeth are still developing, increasing the risks of teeth discoloration.
Can Yellow Teeth Become White?
Yellow teeth can be whitened with the help of an advanced dental team. Teeth whitening can help eliminate yellow teeth problems. This process can be done in-office by a cosmetic dentist or at home using teeth whitening products. Teeth whitening procedures include:
- In-office cosmetic dentistry. A cosmetic dentist uses chairside bleaching with special chemicals to whiten your teeth. They use a rubber barrier or protective teeth whitening gel to protect your gums during the procedure.
- Take-home kits. These include easy-to-use lower, concentration peroxide gels lasting a relatively shorter time.
- OTC products. These comprise store-bought whitening kits with low-concentration bleaching gels instead of medically-issued take-home kits.
- Stain removing toothpaste. Though not as effective, some toothpaste contains extra polishing ingredients that can help to whiten.
What Service Options Does Trail West Family Dentistry Offer To Help With Yellow Teeth?
At Trail West Family Dentistry in Greenville SC, we provide different services to help you reverse yellow-stained teeth. Our cosmetic dentistry services that can help deal with yellow teeth include:
- Teeth whitening
- Veneers
- Bonding
Generally, teeth whitening procedures are the most effective at eliminating yellow teeth. The bleach used in teeth whitening may lighten artificially manufactured teeth. As such, to match the color, our dentist will advise on new dental work, such as veneers and bonding.
Conclusion
Are you tired of yellow teeth? Contact us at Trail West Family Dentistry to get the best professional teeth whitening services in Greenville, SC.