You wouldn’t skip brushing and flossing even in your wildest dreams, but somehow, your smile still isn’t as bright as you’d like. The truth is, even the best oral hygiene routines can sometimes fall short of that pearly-white sparkle. But what causes yellow teeth in the first place? Let’s uncover what’s really behind those stubborn stains – and what you can do to bring back the dazzle!
What Causes Yellow Teeth in Adults?
So, what causes teeth to be yellow? In most cases, the culprits are very simple – either the natural aging process or genetics. However, it can also be the result of numerous factors, including drinking coffee, tea, and other tooth-staining beverages, taking certain medications, or even tooth damage. Most of the time, discoloration develops as a combination of these factors.
What Is Tooth Discoloration?
Tooth discoloration is a fairly simple concept – it describes any noticeable changes in the color of your teeth. And no, that doesn’t mean that anything less than pearly white is considered discoloration. Actually, the natural shades vary significantly, from pale ivory to even grayish tones. Any significant changes to your natural smile, and you’re dealing with discoloration.
When we’re talking about what causes teeth to yellow, there are two main types of stains – intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic stains happen within the structure of the tooth, often due to genetics, certain medications, or past dental treatments.
As you’ve probably already guessed, extrinsic stains affect the outer layer and develop from chromatogenic pileup. Drinking coffee and wine, smoking, and eating tooth-coloring foods are just some of the parts of our daily routine that could result in our smiles losing that natural sparkle.
What Causes Teeth to Turn Yellow Besides the Natural Aging Process?
Most of the time, yellowing teeth are just a natural part of getting older. The enamel, the outer layer of our teeth, starts to thin, letting more of the yellowish dentin beneath show through. On top of that, everyone needs to eat and drink, but certain things don’t exactly keep teeth sparkling white. Here are some of the most common tooth-staining culprits when it comes to our diet:
- Coffee and black tea,
- Red wine,
- Soda and energy drinks,
- Blueberries and blackberries,
- Soy sauce,
- Balsamic vinegar,
- Tomato-based sauces.
Is Your Oral Hygiene Routine Both Safe and Effective?
Your oral hygiene routine can be behind that yellowish tone – it’s crucial to keeping teeth healthy and pearly white. The golden rule is to floss, brush, and rinse twice a day, at least two minutes each time.
If you’ve already nailed down the routine but still not seeing the sparkle you want, it’s time for an upgrade. Talk to your Charlotte dentist in SouthPark about what kind of toothbrush you should be using. With one quick dental exam, they can recommend the perfect products to integrate into your usual routine. You can also talk about a teeth whitening treatment to get your smile back on its pearly track.
Are You Taking Certain Medications That Could Cause Discoloration?
Certain medications, like those prescribed for asthma or high blood pressure, can sometimes bring an unexpected side effect – tooth discoloration. Also, according to the National Library of Medicine, if a woman takes tetracycline antibiotics during pregnancy, the baby might end up sporting a naturally grayish tooth shade. The state of your dental health can also play a role here – but that’s kind of obvious. Most commonly, a damaged tooth will leave the dentin exposed, giving your smile a yellowish hue. Similarly, teeth grinding (bruxism) can also be a sneaky cause of discoloration.
Aspire Dental Wellness Offers Plenty of Ways to Get Your Smile Back to Its Sparkly Self
As you can see, yellowing can happen due to various reasons. But no matter the exact cause, our team at Aspired Dental Wellness, led by Dr. Sladjana Bjelac, will find the solution. A quick exam is all our specialists need to pinpoint the exact state of your oral health and create a treatment based on that.
Our practice of advanced cosmetic & laser dentistry in Charlotte, NC, is always incorporating new methods to get you that smile of your dreams in the most comfortable, effective way. No more drilling tools and sweating in that dental chair! Our team is all about treatments that are as stress-free as they are impressive. For teeth whitening in particular, we offer the following:
- At-Home Whitening – if you’d like to brighten up your smile but do it in the most convenient way possible, our custom-made kits offer you the possibility of at-home treatment.
- TouchWhite™ Fotona – this dental laser treatment is as effective as it is safe, making it a great option for sensitive teeth, and oftentimes, it’s used with Opalescence to bring out your brightest smile yet.
- MAX Whitening – the best of both worlds when it comes to teeth whitening treatments. You’ll wear a custom tray for 2 weeks at night and get an in-office laser session.
Our team at Aspire Dental Wellness also offers options for more complex cases of yellowing and discoloration, combining at-home and in-office care. With one quick visit to our cosmetic dentist in Charlotte, NC, you’ll be well on your way to finding the perfect solution for your pearly whites.
Say Goodbye to Those Stubborn Stains With Our Charlotte, NC, Dentist!
Yellowing teeth might be a natural part of life, but it doesn’t have to be a part of your smile forever. You can introduce small changes into your oral hygiene routine and even try some at-home whitening strips, but the most effective path toward a radiant smile is always professional care. Ready to start your journey to a brighter, healthier smile? Contact us today – Aspire Dental Wellness is here to help you uncover the smile you deserve!
