Why Are My Teeth Yellow?

It could be normal

You may be unhappy when looking at your “yellow” teeth in the mirror, however it’s completely normal for healthy and clean teeth to appear a shade darker than a “Hollywood Smile”. So, before you invest your hard-earned money into teeth whitening, be sure your teeth are clean and free from plaque and tartar accumulated from food residue. If not, you need to have your teeth professionally cleaned by a dentist or a hygienist.

Why do my teeth look yellow?

To understand why even clean and health teeth look yellow, we need to look at the structure of our tooth which is formed by many layers. Enamel is the white outer layer of our teeth that is semitransparent giving teeth the mostly white appearance. Dentin on the other hand is the layer underneath the enamel and has a dark yellow color. The thickness and shade of your tooth enamel is the major factor determining the color of your teeth.

What causes yellow teeth

It’s no surprise that what we put in our mouth has an effect on the color of our teeth. Our teeth have pores just like our skin. Everything we eat or drink that has color will be absorbed into these pores like a sponge absorbing water.
Some foods and drinks that don’t cause staining themselves may still darken the teeth, since they may contain acids that can reduce the amount of enamel on your teeth and also leaving the teeth more vulnerable to stains. Juices that are supposed to be healthy drinks can cause stains and of course soft drinks like soda are a major culprit. Smoking is another taboo if you want pearly white teeth. Nicotine and other chemicals from the cigarettes creep into the pores of your teeth and stain the enamel. Additionally, nicotine causes gums to recede and can develop gum disease.

How to prevent yellow teeth

It goes without saying that you need to brush and floss regularly. Drink milk and plain water to prevent the acid from eroding the teeth. Drink through a straw when drinking soda and other beverages if possible. If the problem still can’t be alleviated you can always try Zoom Whitening.

Zoom whitening

Zoom whitening is a bleaching process designed to reduce discoloration of teeth. The whitening procedure starts with applying hydrogen peroxide whitening gel. Then UV light is applied to penetrate the teeth and break up the stains. The gel is remined while the light is activated. The process is repeated three times for 15 minutes each and 45 minutes total, during which you can relax and listen to music or watch TV. Before jumping into a decision, ask your dentist if zoom whitening is right for you. Your dentist will examine your teeth and gums to make sure they are health, as well as walk you through the procedure and aftercare.
If you still have questions or concern feel free to call us. Let us know what problem you are experiencing. We would love to help you.