Why are My Teeth Yellow?

Teeth discoloration can be caused by a variety of different factors. In most cases you can remedy yellow teeth with simple lifestyle changes. However, in most cases it is easier to prevent yellow teeth, than having to cure them. Some of the primary reasons you may have yellow or discolored teeth include:

• Certain foods and drinks can actually stain your teeth enamel. Some of the most common culprits include wine, colas, tea, coffee, apples and potatoes.
• Smoking and chewing tobacco can also severely stain teeth enamel.
• If you do not frequently brush your teeth, especially after consuming extremely staining foods or smoking, you will notice a higher rate of discoloration.
• There are certain diseases and medical conditions that can also affect the enamel of your teeth. For example, radiation to the head and neck can cause yellowing; additionally some infections that are present in pregnant women can affect the color of your teeth.
• Antibiotics can cause yellowing and discoloration of the teeth. Additionally, antihistamines and high blood pressure medications can cause various levels of discoloration.
• Certain materials that are used in dentistry that contain silver sulfide can cause a gray-black shade to appear on teeth. It is much better for the color of your teeth to use white dental fillings.
• Yellowing colored teeth are also a symptom of aging individuals. This is because as the actual outer enamel layer is worn away, the original color of the dentin becomes visible.
• Some sources of trauma or injury can cause the enamel in children and adults to become discolored.
• Some people are genetically predisposed to yellowing enamel for your teeth. While there is no way to prevent this cause, you can correct the coloring that has occurred.

There are simple lifestyle changes that can be implemented to reduce the yellowing of your teeth. For example, if you drink coffee regularly you may consider cutting back on your consumption or eliminating it altogether. This holds true for tobacco products as well. In most cases, these changes will prevent the condition from worsening, however you may be stuck with the color your teeth are presently. There are solutions for this as well.

With innovative technology you can easily reverse the appearance of yellowing enamel. This can be done by having a dentist professionally bleach your teeth, or use any number of the over the counter products that are available. These methods will noticeably whiten and brighten your teeth. Some products even provide immediate results, that get increasingly more prominent with the more treatments that are used.