What causes yellow teeth and How to get rid of them?

• Aging: Over time, the enamel wears away to reveal the dentin, which is a more yellowish color. This process is natural and occurs even with good oral hygiene.

• Smoking: Nicotine and tobacco tar leave permanent stains on teeth, turning them yellow or even brown over time.

• Genetic Factors: Some people inherit teeth with thinner enamel or a naturally darker shade, making them more susceptible to yellowing.

• Poor oral hygiene: Not brushing and flossing regularly allows plaque and tartar to build up, causing discoloration and staining.

• Medication or illness: Some antibiotics, such as tetracycline, can cause discoloration if taken during tooth formation. Diseases that affect the enamel or dentin can also change their color.

It is important to remember that yellow teeth can vary. Prioritize good oral hygiene habits, such as brushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups.

Healthy teeth, regardless of their colour, contribute to strong enamel. Not all teeth are white and bright by nature, so it's important to focus on overall oral health, not just because of the color of your teeth. Teeth don’t need to be perfectly white to be healthy, as the natural color varies among individuals.

Tooth Discoloration: Types and Causes of Yellow Teeth

In many cases, yellow teeth and tooth discoloration go hand in hand. This is not just an aesthetic issue, and there may be common causes that affect both the color and alignment of the teeth.

• Crowded teeth with pigmentation: Teeth do not have enough space to align properly, so they crowd on top of each other, making cleaning difficult. The accumulation of plaque and tartar in areas that are difficult to brush causes the yellowish tint and also influences the lack of consistent hygiene due to the difficulty in reaching these areas.

• Rotated or misaligned teeth with stains: Teeth that rotate or tilt out of their natural position change the aesthetics and can create irregular contact points. When rotated, they expose more surface area to external agents and also create areas where the brush does not reach well, promoting the appearance of stains.

• Diastemas or interdental spaces with discoloration: These are abnormal spaces between the teeth, although sometimes they are genetic, they can also be due to habits such as pressing the tongue against the teeth. The spaces facilitate the trapping of food debris and this can cause bacterial pigmentation and tartar if not cleaned properly.

Each type of malocclusion creates areas that are difficult to clean, which promotes the appearance of stains and aesthetic problems. Address both problems early with good cleanings, dental visits, and orthodontic treatment if necessary.