Nobody likes yellow teeth!
Tooth discoloration are common occurrences that can happen due to a variety of reasons. Don’t worry! These stains are treatable and preventable.
Persistent stains from drinking coffee, tea and red wine develop over years and often leave your smile looking dull and discoloured. However, they are not the only culprits for stained teeth. Causes of stained teeth include:
Tooth decay or cavities is a result of poor dental hygiene which causes the teeth to be discoloured. Spots on the outside of the tooth can be removed and prevent by doing proper hygiene and proper diet.
Inadequate oral hygiene will cause the teeth to yellow in hue. Tartar and plaque will accumulate tooth decays, gum disease and more health issues.Movement in teeth may cause sensitivity to the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth due to their exposed roots when they drift into the gap.
Medications like Antibiotics and doxycycline are known to discolour teeth when given to children whose teeth are still developing (before age 8). Mouth rinses containing chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride can also stain teeth.
Sweets and candies especially dark varieties like chocolate can cause mild stain to your teeth.
Dark coloured foods and drinks such as tea, coffee, berries, fruit juices, cola, sport drinks are known to stain teeth, as per study this foods or drinks have higher acidity and enamel dissolution which can cause your teeth to get stained.
Cigarettes, have its chemical compounds such as Nicotine, which is colourless but gives your teeth a yellowish colour in the presence of oxygen, and tar which is naturally dark.
Cracked teeth can affect your tooth colour to look yellow if the enamel does not form properly. If the enamel chips away, exposing the naturally yellower dentin layer underneath.
Damage to the internal tooth can be an infection in your tooth pulp – this is the soft core or tissue beneath your tooth’s enamel and dentin layers – which can cause your tooth to become discoloured.
A proper at-home cleaning routine is your best defense against permanent stains and that dull, yellow color. This includes brushing thoroughly for two minutes twice a day and flossing between each tooth once a day. General check-ups every six months are also necessary to ensure you are getting a professional clean and scale. At-home brushing is great, but it can’t do everything!
We also recommend reducing the number of staining foods and drinks you consume. While this is hard, it is the only way to stop re-staining occurring. At the very least you should rinse your mouth with water after consuming these products or even brush your teeth if you are at home. Drinking through straws is also a helpful method to reduce interaction with teeth.
You may wish to consider a teeth whitening treatment. Casa Dental offer a range of teeth whitening treatments to suit your individual circumstances. It’s important to make a dental appointment to talk through your options as your discoloured teeth may be caused by underlying issues that will continue to cause problems if left untreated.
Tooth whitening treatments can brighten, freshen and remove years of stains from your teeth, providing you with a younger, rejuvenated smile.
At Casa Dental, we offer both in-chair and take-home teeth whitening procedures. We use Zoom! Teeth Whitening products for all of our patients which is a market leader and dentist preferred brand for this kind of treatment.
During your assessment if underlying issues are uncovered other treatments may be required or suggested such as: