What Causes Yellow Teeth?
What causes yellow teeth? There are dozens of causes of discolored teeth, including dark particles in foods and drinks, certain medications, poor oral hygiene, behaviors such as smoking, and even aging.
We know how frustrating tooth discoloration can be. The good news is that teeth whitening techniques are amazingly effective today. Read on to learn more about what causes teeth stains and how a professional can help your smile become whiter than ever.
What Causes Teeth Stains?
Even though your enamel (the outer layer of your teeth) is hard, it can also act as a sponge for dark-colored molecules. In other words, the colored particles in food and drinks can be absorbed into your teeth. Over time, they can visibly darken your tooth material.
Let’s look at three different categories of what causes teeth stains :
- External Discoloration: The top layer of teeth can be stained by wine, soda, coffee, and other drinks and foods, along with tobacco.
- Internal Discoloration: Dentin, the material under the top layer of your teeth, can be stained by certain medications and other substances. Antibiotics such as tetracycline and doxycycline are know to discolor teeth. Mouth rinses containing chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride can also stain teeth.
- Aging: As we age, our top layer of tooth material becomes thinner, changing tooth appearance as the next layer starts to show. Periodic damage to teeth also changes their appearance.
Everyone’s teeth get darker with time. What most teeth whitening treatments do is capture the darker molecules in your teeth and break them down.
A professional dentist will be experienced with the latest whitening techniques that repair and lighten your teeth so you can have a more brilliant smile in a short time.
When Should You Get Professional Teeth Whitening Help?
At-home whitening kits are advertised heavily and sold in stores. But are they the best option for you? Teeth whitening products must be used just right to get the best results, and at-home kits were designed in a lab under ideal conditions. Will you be sure to use them correctly?
If you want to get the whitest teeth you can, you should get professional teeth whitening in a dental office. Or they can instruct you on how to use an at-home option correctly. It’s always better to get professional advice and support for any dental concern, even whitening.
How does professional teeth whitening work? You’ll come to the office and sit back comfortably while a dental tray is fitted around your teeth, which will keep the whitening agent on your tooth material. A special light will activate the whitening agent for a set amount of time, typically 30 minutes to an hour, and you’ll see the results right away.
But if you’d rather get teeth whitening at home, we understand! There’s nothing more comfortable than your own couch. A dentist can help you understand the instructions for an at-home kit. Note that at-home whitening often takes longer to see results than the stronger, in-office type.
Schedule an Appointment with South Temple Dental
If you are developing yellow teeth, schedule an appointment with South Temple Dental and let us help you get on an effective protocol—combined with healthy oral hygiene habits —to keep your smile looking healthy and clean.
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