Teeth Yellowing: Causes of Tooth Discolourations
Teeth discolouration can be a source of embarrassment and can make you feel self-conscious about your smile. While yellowing is the most common type, your teeth can also become brown, grey, orange or even black.
If you have yellow teeth, knowing the causes can help you determine the suitable treatment option to help, you achieve a whiter smile.
Why Do Teeth Turn Yellow?
While a white smile doesn’t mean healthy teeth, colour is still an essential factor in our smiles. Many things can cause teeth to turn yellow, but the main culprits are:
- Smoking
The nicotine and tar in cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products can cause teeth to become yellow or brown. Though it is colourless, nicotine can get into the pores of your tooth enamel, the porous outer surface of the teeth. When this happens, the nicotine turns yellow when exposed to oxygen. Similarly, tar is responsible for making your teeth brown. - Poor oral hygiene routine
If you don’t practice regular brushing and flossing, plaque and tartar can build up on your teeth, leading to yellowing. Plaque is a white, soft and sticky film that turns yellow as it accumulates. It develops when bacteria in the mouth combine with food byproducts and protein. It adheres to the tooth enamel, and if not removed with proper brushing and flossing, it can harden, resulting in tartar buildup.
Like plaque, tartar can also hold bacteria and the acids they produce on the surface of your teeth. But they are harder to remove because they accumulate at the gum line on your teeth’ back and front surfaces. This accumulation can make your teeth yellow. - Certain types of food and drinks
Stain-causing foods and beverages, including coffee, tea, red wine, and soda, can contribute to tooth discolouration. These contain chromogens, pigments that can attach to your tooth enamel. - Ageing
As people age, the outer layer of their teeth, called the enamel, becomes thinner. This makes your teeth look more yellow because the naturally yellowish dentin becomes more visible. - Certain medical conditions and medications
Diseases that prevent normal enamel development, like fluorosis, can cause teeth to be yellow or brown. This is a condition that is caused by excessive fluoride during tooth development.
Meanwhile, certain medications, such as antihypertensive medications, antipsychotic drugs and antibiotics, can lead to tooth discolouration. For instance, an antibiotic like tetracycline can cause staining in children whose teeth are still developing. If you have this kind of antibiotic while you’re pregnant, especially in your second or third trimester, it can lead to teeth discolouration in your unborn child’s developing milk teeth and prevent the enamel from forming properly. When their teeth come through, they may be stained yellow, grey or brown. - Trauma to the teeth
An injury to the teeth can also result in tooth discolouration. For example, if you have a root canal, the blood vessels in the tooth can die. As a result, your tooth may become grey or brown. Also, if falls or injuries cause dental trauma to a child, this can disturb the enamel formation when their permanent teeth are still developing. As a result, their teeth may be discoloured when they come through. - Teeth grinding or bruxism.
Tooth grinding, also called bruxism, can cause your teeth to become yellow or discoloured. Grinding can wear down your enamel, making the dentin more visible. - Genetics
In some cases, tooth colour runs in the family. Some people are lucky enough to have thicker enamel that is more resistant to staining. However, others have thinner enamel, exposing the dentin, which makes the teeth look yellow. - Some mouthwashes or rinses
Some brands of mouthwashes with chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride can result in stained teeth. These chemicals can help reduce plaque and tartar, but they can also cause the enamel to be yellow. - Certain dental materials used in other dental treatments
Some dental materials, such as amalgam fillings, can also contribute to tooth discolouration. Amalgam is a metal alloy that contains mercury, silver and other metals. Over time, it can erode and release small amounts of mercury, which can cause your teeth to become stained or yellow.
What Are Intrinsic And Extrinsic Stains?
There are two types of teeth staining, which are intrinsic and extrinsic. Here’s a summary of their differences:
- Intrinsic
This type of tooth stain is located below the enamel, in the inner tooth structure called dentin. Medications, trauma, or ageing usually cause intrinsic stains. Because they’re accumulated inside the tooth, they’re more difficult to treat. They typically present as yellow, orange, brown or grey. Sometimes, they are white or dark brown spots caused by dental fluorosis, demineralisation and hypo calcification. - Extrinsic
Also called a surface stain, this is a type of teeth stain that’s on the surface of your teeth. Extrinsic stains are usually caused by lifestyle habits, such as smoking and drinking coffee, tea, red wine, etc. They’re easier to treat because they’re just on the surface of the teeth. They often appear yellow or brown.
Can Teeth Staining Be Prevented?
While there are teeth discolourations (like the ones caused by ageing) you can’t avoid, there are certain measures you can take to prevent teeth staining, including:
- Improve your dental hygiene by brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing once a day to help remove plaque and other debris that can lead to staining. Also, replace your toothbrush at least every three months.
- See your dentist two times per year for regular dental check-ups and professional cleanings. Follow their advice on how to care for your teeth properly.
- Limit your intake of stain-causing food and beverages, such as coffee, tea, red wine, sports drinks and soft drinks. If you can’t avoid them altogether, brush your teeth or wash your mouth with water after consuming them.
- Consider quitting smoking, as cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products do not only pose health risks but can also cause teeth to become yellow or brown. If you can’t quit, limit your consumption as much as possible. Similarly, limit your intake of alcohol, which can cause dry mouth, increasing the risk of dental stains and yellowing.
- Use a whitening toothpaste with fluoride or mouthwash to help prevent stains.
- Wear a mouthguard to help prevent teeth injury if you play sports.
- If you’re taking medication that can cause staining, talk to your dentist about ways to minimise the risk.
- Cut down on acidic foods and drinks that can cause tooth decay and tooth enamel erosion.
- Prevent dry mouth
Ways To Remove Yellow Teeth
There are two major methods to improve teeth yellowing: in-office or in-chair and at-home teeth whitening.
- In-office/in-chair teeth whitening
This is your best option if you have the budget and want an instant improvement in the colour of your teeth. They are done by a dentist or another licensed dental professional in a dental clinic, lasting for 45 minutes to an hour. This method may also be your choice if you seek a more convenient and safe way without doing any procedures at home. - At-home teeth whitening
If you want a more affordable way or you’re looking for a more gradual approach to teeth whitening, you may want to try at-home teeth whitening. You can whiten your teeth at home in many ways, such as using a professional take-home whitening kit and over-the-counter teeth whitening products, including a whitening kit, toothpaste, rinses, strips and gels.
You can also make your natural toothpaste by mixing baking soda with water, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide or mouthwash by combining a small amount of apple cider vinegar with water.
Final Thoughts
Yellowing of the teeth is a condition wherein the teeth become stained yellow. This occurs due to different factors, including ageing, medications, smoking, and consuming certain foods and drinks. There are ways to remove the yellowing of the teeth, such as professional teeth whitening is done by a dentist in a dental office and using a take-home whitening kit. You may also use over-the-counter products, such as toothpaste, rinses, gels, pens and homemade tooth-whitening pastes from baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.
If you have yellow teeth and want to make your teeth 2 to 8 shades lighter after one session, contact us at 08 9020 7002 to book a consultation.
Prospect Road Dental is a modern clinic with a team of dentists that efficiently perform professional whitening to help you regain your confidence. One of the dentists will discuss the procedure and what expectations you should have. They will also assess your teeth and let you know how many sessions you need based on the severity of the discolourations.
FAQs
There are a number of teeth whitening advantages, including boosting your confidence, making you look younger, and giving you a refreshed appearance.
Teeth whitening does not hurt, but some people may experience sensitivity during and after the treatment. This should resolve after a few days. If you use over-the-counter tooth whiteners and do not follow the instructions, you may also experience gum irritation.
This depends on your teeth whitening method and how you take care of your teeth. In-office teeth whitening lasts up to 2 to 3 years with proper care and as short as six months. For a professional take-home whitening kit, you may expect your results to last up to a year. On the other hand, the effects of at-home teeth over-the-counter whitening products may last for a few months.
The cost of teeth whitening treatment differs based on your method, location, and severity of your tooth stains. In Australia, a national dental fee survey in 2017 reveals that you can expect to pay up to $610 for a take-home teeth whitening kit. In-chair teeth whitening may cost you $260 per tooth and another $280 for a complimentary consultation and plaque removal.