What Causes Yellowing Of Teeth?

Yellow teeth

Yellowing of the teeth is one of the most common reasons that prompt people to visit the dentist. Yellowing of the teeth may occur in a simple and gradual manner in some cases, and it may be severe and unavoidable in other cases. There are many causes that lead to yellowing of the teeth, as well as many methods of treatment, and all of this will be discussed below.

Cause of yellow teeth

There are many factors and conditions that cause yellowing of teeth, including the following:

• Certain foods and drinks such as coffee, tea, red wine, and blueberries.
• Using tobacco, whether by smoking or chewing it, as tobacco contains nicotine, which causes external stains on the surfaces of the teeth. These stains are easy to remove shortly after their formation, but they may become permanent after that. It is worth noting that smoking cigarettes is the most common cause of yellowing of the teeth.
• Lack of attention to oral and dental hygiene, which in turn leads to the rapid accumulation of plaque on the surfaces of the teeth, and with continued failure to brush the teeth, tartar begins to form, and tartar causes yellowing of the teeth, and in fact, if tartar forms, it cannot be removed using a toothbrush.
• Genetic factor, as the tooth consists of an outer layer called enamel, and enamel is white and has the property of transparency, and this layer is followed by the dentin layer, which is yellow, and in some cases the enamel layer is thinner than normal, which makes the dentin layer more visible, so the teeth appear yellow.
• Aging: The older a person gets, the more yellow their teeth appear, because the thickness of the enamel layer of the teeth decreases with age, making the yellow dentin layer more visible.
• Side effects of some medications and mouthwashes, such as mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine, as the use of these mouthwashes sometimes leads to staining of the teeth and tongue.
• Exposure to accidents and blows.
• Excessive use of fluoride. Excessive use of fluoride results in what is called fluorosis. It usually occurs at the time when permanent teeth are forming, i.e. during the first eight years of a child’s life. Fluorosis may appear as white marks on the surface of the teeth that a dentist can distinguish.
• Chronic dry mouth or decreased saliva secretion, as dry mouth results from decreased saliva secretion or a change in its quality. In fact, saliva cleans and moisturizes the mouth, and helps in chewing, swallowing, and speaking. Saliva also protects against tooth decay and helps in sensing taste.

Teeth whitening

There are many ways to get white teeth, including the following:

• Brush your teeth and clean between them using dental floss, taking care to follow the correct method. You must also avoid eating foods and drinks that cause stains.
• Teeth whitening by using whitening products such as whitening toothpastes, whitening strips, and whitening mouthwashes.
• Teeth whitening, whether in the dentist's office or using home bleaching, where teeth are whitened in the dentist's office using a bleaching material that is placed on the surfaces of the teeth, taking care to cover the gums with a rubber material to avoid harming them, and this process is done during a single visit to the dentist's office. As for home bleaching, the concentration of the bleaching material is usually less than the concentration of that used in the dentist's office, and the bleaching process is done by placing the material inside a special mold for the person's teeth so that he can wear this mold.
• Veneers are very thin layers of porcelain that cover the front surfaces of teeth. These veneers change the shape, size, length, and color of teeth. They can also be made of cosmetic filling material, but veneers made of porcelain are more resistant to staining and give teeth a shine similar to that of natural teeth.
• Natural recipes: There are many natural recipes that help get rid of yellow teeth, including the following:
  • Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide: A study indicated that using this mixture works to remove stains and whiten teeth. This mixture is made by mixing a tablespoon of baking soda with two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide until the mixture becomes like a paste, then the teeth are brushed using it, and the mouth must be rinsed well with water after using it.
  • Apple cider vinegar: Although there are not enough studies on the use of apple cider vinegar in teeth whitening, it is believed that it has a role in this; however, small amounts of it should be used for a short period of time to avoid the side effects that may result from its use. It can be used by mixing two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar with approximately 180 ml of water, then gargling with the prepared solution for 30 seconds. It is also necessary to gargle with water after using it.
  • Fruit peels: such as banana, orange, and lemon peels. Some people claim that rubbing the teeth with the peels of these fruits will whiten the teeth.
  • Activated charcoal: It is believed that activated charcoal works to absorb toxins and kill bacteria in the mouth, and therefore it can be used to whiten teeth by brushing the teeth with it, taking care not to get close to the area adjacent to the gums, because the charcoal may cause harm to them.