If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and been shocked by the colour of your teeth, then you’re not alone. Many people struggle with discoloured teeth, and while some cases are the result of specific genes or medical conditions, many others are simply the result of lifestyle choices. Fortunately, there are ways to reverse the effects of discolouration and get your pearly whites back again. Whether your teeth have become stained from drinking coffee or smoking cigarettes, or if you’re dealing with natural yellowing as a result of age, there are different strategies for lightening them up. Here are some common causes for teeth turning yellow, along with tips on how to whiten them again.
Coffee, tea and red wine: the most common culprits
We’ve all heard the expression “drinking too much coffee will stain your teeth,” but that doesn’t make it any less shocking when it happens to you. The truth is that many common beverages and foods have the potential to stain your teeth. This is because coffee, tea and red wine are all high in tannins, which are a natural by-product of the process of turning plants into paper or cloth. Although people have been aware of tannin’s teeth-staining properties for thousands of years, scientists only began to understand the process of tooth discolouration in the last century.
Tooth stains caused by lifestyle habits: Foods/drinks: Coffee, tea, colas, wines, and some starchy foods such as pasta or potatoes, can create conditions that cause staining. Tobacco use: Smoking or chewing tobacco can stain teeth. Other reasons for tooth discolouration may be:
- Extrinsic, meaning it’s caused by something that comes in contact with your teeth
- Intrinsic, meaning it’s caused by something inside your teeth or body
- Age-related — happening later in life
Genetics plays a role in Teeth colour
Like many other traits, there’s a genetic component to the colour of your teeth. Most commonly, the yellowing of teeth can be traced to genetics. However, this doesn’t mean that your teeth are destined to be yellow until the end of your days. You might simply have a buildup of stains that require a little extra scrubbing to remove. In other cases, natural ageing may cause the teeth to become slightly yellow without intervention. If you notice a dramatic change in the colour of your teeth, it may be worth visiting a dentist to have them take a look.
Smoking also causes the yellow colour of Teeth
As well as adding to your caffeine intake, smoking can also block your teeth from absorbing necessary minerals. This causes the colour of your teeth to fade, and the yellowing effect can be seen even after you’ve stopped smoking. If you’re trying to whiten your teeth, you may need to set a date to quit. It can take several weeks or even months for teeth stains to fade away, depending on how often and heavily you smoke.
Disease and Medications
Several diseases that affect enamel and dentin can lead to tooth discolouration. Treatments for certain conditions can also affect tooth color. For example, head and neck radiation and chemotherapycan cause teeth discolouration. In addition, certain infections in pregnant mothers can lead to tooth discolouration in their babies by affecting enamel development.
The antibiotics tetracycline and doxycycline are known to discolor teeth when given to children whose teeth are still developing (before age 8). Mouth rinses and washes containing chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride can also stain teeth.
Professional whitening is one option
If you’re struggling to change the colour of your teeth with diet and dental hygiene, then professional whitening may be the way to go. This is a process that uses a high-concentration solution to effectively strip stains from teeth. Some treatments involve the application of a gel, followed by a light-activated solution that oxidises stains and makes them easier to remove.
Other options include the injection of hydrogen peroxide into the tooth. Whichever method you choose, this will be followed by a whitening agent that will further enhance the effects. While whitening isn’t guaranteed to change the colour of every person’s teeth, it has proven to be effective in many cases.
Tooth discolouration causes by colour
Yellow. As you age, the white enamel surface of your teeth may wear down. The yellow core of the teeth becomes more visible.
Brown. Tobacco or dark beverages like tea or coffee, and poor brushing habits that lead to tooth decay may cause teeth to turn brown.
White. As young teeth develop, too much fluoride can cause white spots. This is called fluorosis, and it happens when teeth come into contact with too much fluoride from drinking water or excess use of fluoride rinses or toothpastes.
Black.Tooth decay or tooth pulp necrosis may turn your teeth grayish or black. Chewing betel nuts can also turn teeth black. Exposure to minerals like iron, manganese, or silver in industrial settings or from any supplements may create a black line on your teeth.
Conclusion
You can’t control your genetics, but you can control your lifestyle habits. If you notice that your teeth are becoming increasingly yellow, it’s worth taking a look at your daily routine to see if there are any simple changes you can make. While drinking of coffee or tea, use a straw to reduce staining and consider switching to lower-caffeine brands. If you smoke, try to quit as soon as possible, as this will help reduce staining over time. And if you have naturally yellowing teeth, many at-home whitening products are designed to treat discolouration.
