You brush, floss, and rinse twice a day, but when you check in the mirror, your teeth still aren’t giving you that movie-star smile. It’s enough to make you wonder if your toothbrush is even working! So, what’s the deal? Why are my teeth yellow when I brush them every day? Let’s break down why you might not be sporting the pearly whites even when you’re doing everything right.
The Main Culprits – Why Are My Teeth Yellow When I Brush Them Every Day?
Natural aging, genetics, taking certain medications, or eating tooth-staining foods and drinks can all contribute to discoloration. Additionally, tooth damage and habits like smoking can be behind it. Most of the time, it’s a combination of these factors rather than just one reason.
Why Do Teeth Become Yellow Anyway?
In the dental world, there’s one common misconception – it’s that teeth should be flawlessly white. In reality, the natural color of teeth can vary significantly, with shades ranging from pale ivory to subtle yellow or grayish tones.
As we age, it’s entirely normal for teeth to lose some of their brightness. Life happens, and over time, natural changes and surface stains can contribute to this darkening. Most commonly, the tooth enamel starts to wear down, uncovering dentin, the darker-colored layer beneath.
This discoloration typically falls into two categories – intrinsic and extrinsic stains. Intrinsic stains develop within the tooth structure, often due to factors like genetics or past dental treatments. On the other hand, extrinsic stains affect the outer layer and are usually caused by external factors, such as what you eat and drink.
You’re Brushing Every Day, but Are You Doing It Right?
Before we get into the other common culprits behind that yellowish tone, let’s bring it back to the basics and talk about the ideal oral hygiene routine. The general rule goes – flossing, brushing, rinsing – two times a day, for at least two minutes at a time.
If you’re already doing this, your brushing technique might be what’s holding you back from having a bright smile. Make sure you’re holding the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gums, and clean the surfaces of the teeth using gentle, circular motions. Make sure to give equal attention to each section of your mouth, and do your best to reach every crack and crevice.
Certain Foods and Drinks Can Cause Discoloration
Regularly drinking coffee, tea, dark sodas, and red wine can be what’s behind that less-than-radiant smile. Also, many foods can stain teeth if left on their surface for too long, including the following:
- Tomato-based sauces,
- Soy sauce,
- Balsamic vinegar,
- Starchy foods,
- Beetroot,
- Berries,
- Candy.
Some Medications Can Be Behind That Yellowish Tone
Certain medications, such as those prescribed for high blood pressure and asthma, can cause tooth discoloration. So, if you’re not sure why your smile is not at its brightest, even with diligent oral care, see if tooth discoloration is listed as a possible side effect of the medications you’re taking.
Also, research published by the National Library of Medicine has found that tetracycline antibiotics can stain teeth that are still developing in the gums. This means that, believe it or not, if your mother was taking these antibiotics during her pregnancy, you might be sporting a naturally grayish tooth color. While we’re on the topic, we should mention that in some cases, simple genetics can be the determining factor of your teeth color.
Various Dental Conditions Can Affect the Color of Your Teeth
Besides the factors we’ve discussed, a couple of different scenarios concerning your dental health can be behind the darkening tone. First off, if you’ve experienced an accident that damaged your tooth, the dentin can get exposed, and this could result in a yellowish appearance of your smile.
In the same sense, tooth grinding, also known as bruxism, can be the culprit. A condition known as fluorosis is another common scenario, characterized by yellowish spots on the teeth. While using fluoride-based products is generally good for keeping your teeth healthy, overusing them can lead to this condition, and that might just be what’s dampening your smile.
Obviously, Smoking Can Be the Cause
If you’re a smoker, you probably already know that nicotine and tar can lead to tooth discoloration. However, with plenty of correlated dental concerns, the appearance of your smile should be the least of your worries, but it’s still an important reason to finally quit smoking.
Aspire Dental Wellness Offers Plenty of Options for Brightening Your Smile
No matter the exact reason behind your pearly whites losing their smile, your cosmetic dentist in Charlotte, NC, can help. A quick dental cleaning and exam is all it takes for us to assess your oral health and craft a personalized teeth whitening treatment based on that.
Advanced cosmetic & laser dentistry in Charlotte, NC, has come a long way, and with it, plenty of effective, non-invasive treatments have been brought to life. The team at Aspire Dental Wellness, led by Dr. Sladjana Bjelac, can offer you the following:
- At-Home Whitening Kit – perfect for those who prefer to achieve a brighter smile and professional results safely from the comfort of their own home,
- TouchWhite™ Fotona – plenty of case reports have shown how effective just one dental laser treatment really is, and it’s combined with Opalescence to maximize brightness,
- MAX Whitening – literally the best of both worlds, a treatment that combines at-home care with an in-office laser dentistry session.
Besides the aforementioned options, our clinic offers two options for more complex discolorations, both using a combination of custom at-home treatment and in-office sessions. That way, we can get your smile back to its sparkly self, no matter how deep the stains are.
Get the Smile You Deserve With Your Charlotte Dentist in SouthPark
All in all, if you’ve been wondering why your teeth remain stubbornly yellow despite your diligent brushing routine, you’re definitely not alone! But no matter the exact reason, our practice of cosmetic dentistry in Charlotte, NC, provides plenty of solutions. Contact us and schedule an appointment at Aspire Dental Wellness today – that brighter smile is just a visit away!
