Causes of yellow teeth
One of the main causes of yellow teeth is poor dental hygiene.
Lack of hygiene: Inadequate teeth cleaning is the main cause of this disorder.
Many children or older people brush their teeth in the morning, but not before going to bed.
To preserve the white color of the teeth, you should definitely floss after eating and brush your teeth at least twice a day.
Floss and brush are necessary to remove plaque and substances that cause stains.
Teeth cleaning also helps to avoid tooth decay and bad breath.
Genetic factors: If the teeth are yellow from birth, the cause may be a genetic disease.
One can consult a dentist to learn about natural methods of teeth whitening.
The dentist can teach you how to whiten your teeth at home.
Genetic factors that lead to a weakened tooth structure from birth cause yellow teeth, even if the child brushes them regularly.
Poorly formed enamel (the hard surface of the teeth) or poorly formed dentin (the layer under the enamel) are examples of a weak tooth structure.
Diseases: The condition may also be caused by a disease that attacks tooth enamel and dentin. There are many diseases that can provoke yellow teeth.
Sometimes treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy can suddenly turn teeth yellow.
Pregnant women should take special care of themselves, as during pregnancy, some infections can cause yellowing of the child’s teeth as tooth enamel develops.
Braces: In and of themselves, braces do not cause a color change of the teeth.
However, with braces, you should remember that you should triple the tooth cleaning to ensure the optimal health of the pearl-white tooth color.
Inadequate dental care can lead to yellowish discoloration of the teeth.
After removing the braces (for example, Invisalign), the dentist may recommend treatment to whiten the teeth.
Alcohol and tobacco: Nicotine and cigarettes cause yellow teeth. Smoking can also lead to black teeth over time.
Electronic cigarettes do not cause yellow teeth like regular cigarettes because they do not contain as many carcinogenic substances.
One should avoid chewing tobacco and also the consumption of too much red wine.
Avoiding these foods and drinks can certainly save a visit to the dentist for a tooth cleaning.
Trauma: Trauma or accident can damage the internal areas of one or more teeth. In small and growing children, a fall can also affect the development of tooth enamel. This can lead to yellow teeth. Caries can also cause a yellowish or black coloration.
Getting older: Just as hair turns gray, teeth can also turn yellowish as a result of aging.
In the elderly, it is quite normal for the natural coloration to be lost and stains to develop on the teeth.
Effect of medication: Some antibiotics or other medications can also cause a color change of the teeth, for example Augmentan (amoxicillin) and tetracyclines. One should always avoid excessive use of medication.
Mouthwashes with a high fluorine content can cause yellow-brown teeth if used for long periods of time.
Deficiencies in vitamins A, C and D are another dietary cause of the disorder.
Vomiting can damage tooth enamel because the vomit is acidic.
Food and drinks: The excessive consumption of sweetened beverages can remove the transparent enamel from the teeth.
Consuming large amounts of sugar (cakes, chocolate, sweets, sweetened fruit juices, soft drinks, etc.) can remove the outer coating of the teeth, causing them to yellow.
Another culprit responsible is caffeine. People who drink a lot of tea or coffee have yellower teeth than others.
Saliva becomes acidic (pH drops), which promotes enamel erosion.
Contents
Yellow teeth in children, causes and remedies
Thin enamel
One of the most commonly misdiagnosed causes is the existence of thin enamel. The enamel represents the outermost layer of the tooth, which is not only the hardest structure of the human body, but also the substance that gives the teeth their white color. Under the enamel is the dentin, which is slightly yellower and also sensitive to pain and cold. Some children naturally have a very thin layer of enamel or the enamel has become thinner due to food, brushing too much, or carbonated drinks.
Stains
Some children have extremely poor oral hygiene, which can lead to yellow teeth. Poor dental care often leads to the formation of tartar and plaque.
This can be seen especially in children with braces, as correct dental hygiene with these appliances is often not easy.
In these cases, it is not enough to brush your teeth twice a day.
Medications
There are some medications that make the teeth stained. They can cause internal or external stains on the teeth that can cause yellowing or black spots.
A common culprit in this regard is tetracycline. Tetracycline is an antibiotic used to treat various diseases.
One of the main side effects of tetracycline is that it causes yellowing of teeth in children.
In fact, studies have shown that taking tetracycline in pregnant women can damage the child’s teeth, which will appear in the child’s mouth after their breakthrough.
So we now know the causes and remedies for yellow teeth. There are still a few relatively rare causes, for example hereditary diseases such as congenital enamel hypoplasia or dentinogenesis imperfecta.
Even though people often neglect the problems that occur with milk teeth, as they fall out later anyway, an infection that causes stains on the teeth can also spread to the underlying permanent tooth.
How to whiten teeth?
Teeth can turn white again. Treatment includes natural methods or treatment in a dental clinic.
Natural remedies and home remedies
You should brush your teeth at least twice a day. Over time, a slow accumulation of plaque can also manifest itself in the yellowing of the teeth.
An effective means of whitening teeth is eating an apple after a meal.
The apple acts as a natural cleanser and removes food particles that have stuck to the teeth.
So, eating apples and fresh fruit with a high fiber content acts like a natural tooth cleaning.
In addition, you should drink some water or gargle after drinking tea or coffee to prevent the development of stains on the teeth.
As with any therapy, nutrition plays an important role here.
So you should eat healthy fruits and vegetables, especially strawberries, for natural whitening of your teeth.
Some dentists advise against experimental methods of whitening teeth at home, such as brushing with lemon, vinegar, sodium bicarbonate, hydrogen peroxide, or other abrasive or acidic agents.
These can remove the external layer of stains, but can also remove some layers of tooth enamel.
This enamel does not grow back and its absence can expose the dentin and thus lead to yellowing of the teeth.
Women should match the color of their lipstick to the yellow teeth.
In order not to make the defect too obvious, you should choose a lipstick color that tends to violet or magenta and avoid as full red tones as possible.
How to whiten teeth with hydrogen peroxide
Method for whitening
Hydrogen peroxide is a highly reactive acid and has antiseptic and bleaching properties that make teeth white. Many toothpastes and mouthwashes contain some hydrogen peroxide.
Rinsing: Mix some regular water and hydrogen peroxide (3%) in equal proportions.
Rinse your mouth with this solution before or after brushing your teeth.
Brushes: Mix two tablespoons of bicarbonate and half a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide with the addition of water to form a paste.
One can add a few drops of peppermint extract to get a mint flavor.
Put a small amount of this mixture on a damp toothbrush and brush your teeth with it.
Change the toothpaste: put a tablespoon of regular toothpaste in a small glass jar.
Add 4 to 6 drops of hydrogen peroxide and a pinch of salt. Mix well.
Put this mixture on the toothbrush and brush the teeth normally.
What to do? Treatment by the dentist
Whitening
If the patient still has yellow teeth despite regular brushing and after all possible treatments, he should have the teeth checked by a dentist.
One option that the dentist might advise is to whiten the teeth.
This is a good choice for people who have yellow teeth and where the enamel is sufficiently thick.
Because if the tooth is yellow due to insufficient enamel (i.e. due to exposure of the dentin), whitening can make the tooth sensitive.
In this case, treatment for pain-sensitive teeth would also be necessary.
Veneers and dental crowns
An option for people who have thin tooth enamel is to apply crowns or veneering shells.
A dental crown is a useful option for a single tooth, but this is rare.
Veneers are cladding that are applied to the surface of the tooth and not only provide protection and strengthen tooth enamel, but also improve the aesthetic aspect.
There are two types of facing shells: made of composite resin and made of ceramic or porcelain.
Even though this option falls under cosmetic dentistry, the treatment is still preferred by those who want an immediate and visible effect on appearance.
