| Yellow teeth can be very embarrassing. Every time someone cracks a joke and you want to laugh, you are reminded of your not-so-white teeth, and you just give them a lame smile. Not only does it make the person cracking the joke feel bad – somewhere deep down, it probably makes you feel pretty rotten too! |  |
So, why not take a decision to not live with the yellowed teeth anymore? No, we aren’t asking you to get your teeth extracted… of course not! But you could start keeping track of the things that make your teeth go yellow. And when you know what causes yellow teeth – just start avoiding these factors every day.
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Certain things you eat or drink:
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| Smoking
The tobacco stains teeth to look really bad! Even chewing tobacco can have the same effect. |
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Improper brushing and flossing
Poor dental hygiene can obviously be a contributing factor! If you do not keep your teeth clean, they are bound to look dirty! |
| Fluoride!
Yes, fluoride, often found in toothpastes and mouth washes can cause discoloration of teeth. |
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These factors are in your control. But the bad news is that there are a few other factors that you cannot really control –
- Heredity – your genetics determine the thickness of enamel covering your teeth. If it isn’t too thick, you may be predisposed to have yellow teeth.
- Age – this causes natural wearing away of the enamel layer – exposing the yellow dentine underneath.
- Certain types of medication – Certain medicines cause teeth to get stained or discolored. You may or may not be able to avoid these:
- Tetracycline
- Antihistamines
- Antipsychotic drugs
- Blood pressure medication
- Chlorhexidine or cetylpyridinium chloride mouthwashes
- Doxycycline
- Trauma or injury to teeth – any injury to teeth that causes the enamel to chip off or get worn out can cause yellowing.
- Certain diseases – not just the disease, but its treatment too can lead to discoloration of teeth. Certain forms of infection during pregnancy; chemotherapy of radiation in the neck and facial areas fall into this category.
If you suspect these are the culprit behind your yellow teeth, you may need to either visit your dentist and/or get hold of one of the available teeth-whitening products.
So much for what causes yellow teeth, but if your teeth are already yellow – worry not. You can actually get them back to their pearly white former selves with the help of a few simple tricks and remedies!