Why Are My Teeth Yellow Even Though I Brush Them Daily? Healthy-looking teeth are always desired, which is probably why you prioritize dental visits and brushing your teeth, yet here you are dealing with yellow-stained teeth. This problem can affect many aspects of life, including your self-esteem and confidence. The following are some reasons your teeth are yellow and what you can do about the problem.
Why are My Teeth Still Yellow Even if I Brush Daily?
Okay, so you’ve got yellow teeth even though you brush as you should. It doesn’t make sense, especially after reading or hearing people say that brushing your teeth helps maintain pearly white teeth. The following are four possible reasons your teeth are discolored:
- It could be caused by things you can’t control.
- There may be something you are consuming causing this issue.
- Your dental hygiene may not be as good as you think.
- The stains on your teeth may be deep.
There are other potential reasons, such as certain medications, trauma to your teeth at a young age, or being exposed to certain environmental issues like water with high fluoride content.
What Causes Yellow or Discolored Teeth?
Okay, now you know that teeth can be discolored even if you brush your teeth, and you also know some common reasons for the issue. You may be wondering what all of this means. Hopefully, the following will make these common reasons a little clearer:
Uncontrollable Things
Aging and your overall health could be linked to your smile’s appearance. Those of a certain age might simply be losing enamel, which could expose the dentin that can easily stain.
Genetics could be involved as well. Some people naturally have a thick layer of enamel while others don’t.
For those who don’t know, enamel is a film of protection that forms around your teeth. This layer helps keep bacteria and stains away. On top of that, enamel also helps keep your teeth looking beautiful and shiny. The problem for some people is that their enamel is thin, meaning that with age, the enamel will begin to thin out more, leaving teeth vulnerable.
Your health could also play a part here. People dealing with specific illnesses could have yellow teeth through no fault of their own. This is because the medication used to treat things like cancer has been known to stain teeth.
Linked to Consumption
Another thing that may be causing stained or discolored teeth is what you eat. Certain food and drinks have strong colors that could stain your teeth if consumed consistently. The following foods could cause problems:
- Coffee
- Teas
- Sodas
- Blueberries
- Vegetables like carrots
- Wine
It is important to point out that some of these foods are pretty healthy for you, so they shouldn’t be eliminated from your diet. What you can do is limit certain fruit, vegetables, teas, coffee, and wines. After eating them, make sure you rinse your mouth out afterward.
The traditional sodas you find in the store aren’t really healthful, so there’s no reason to hold on to that. The artificial sweeteners in diet sodas have been linked to heart and circulation problems.
Improper Cleaning
Cleaning your teeth involves more than you might imagine. You’d be surprised how many people think they know how to brush their teeth but are doing it wrong. The following are a few things to keep in mind when you brush your teeth if you are worried about stains:
- Rinse your mouth out if you eat something that could stain your teeth.
- Brush your teeth twice a day.
- Be sure to brush for two minutes or a little longer. Remember to brush all around your teeth.
- Do your best to floss at least once a day to remove any buildup plaque.
- Rinse your mouth out with an antiseptic.
- Consider using a whitening toothpaste once a week to prevent staining.
If you aren’t doing any of these things, that might be the reason your teeth are stained. It would be wise to talk to your dentist about cleaning. You can ask him or her to train you so that you know how to properly brush your teeth.
Deeper Stains
You might be brushing your teeth properly and may not be dealing with any health issue that could cause you to develop yellow teeth yet your teeth are yellow. Well, the problem could be that the stains are deep.
You could have surface stains or internal stains. Remember those foods that can stain your teeth? The reason they stain your teeth is due to chromogens.
These chromogens could be removed quickly or can settle into the enamel becoming internal stains that no toothbrush or rinse can remove. Nicotine’s residue, given enough time, could also settle into your teeth’s enamel becoming impossible to remove. The residue is going to look pretty yellow as well.
Deep stains are stuck, so you are going to have to partner up with your dentist to figure out what to do next.
Do Yellow Teeth Mean I am Unhealthy?
Having yellow teeth doesn’t mean you are unhealthy, but some people may think that. Of course, if your teeth are unhealthy because you smoke or because you drink too much wine, then there might be underlying issues linked to those vices.
You’ve been learning why teeth look yellow, but the reason is usually linked to something you are doing unless the problem is genetics. Even if the issue is genetics, you are not considered sick because your teeth don’t produce enough enamel; that’s just a disposition a person has.
The problem is most people are going to think negatively about yellow teeth. Some people may think you are unhealthy while others might think you don’t take care of yourself as well as you should. Yellow teeth could make it hard for you to be successful in your career or love life.
Yes, people naturally use the overall appearance of your teeth to tell if you are a good mate or not. This is not personal; it happens without the person knowing that he or she is doing it. Yellow teeth can make others think things about you that are not true.
You want to figure out a way to get your teeth back to normal for yourself, but now you know how important pearly, white teeth are for your life in general.
How Can Yellow Teeth be Prevented?
If you can actively prevent this from happening to you, it would be ideal. It’s difficult to get your teeth back to normal. It’ll take time, money, and commitment, which are not always easy to give.
You’ve already learned some things you can do to prevent yellow teeth, but one thing that was not mentioned earlier is the importance of dental visits.
Getting a deep dental cleaning from your dentist when the time is right is one of the smartest things you can do. Cleaning doesn’t only prevent yellowing, but you’ll also be protecting your teeth from tartar, cavities, and infections.
If you haven’t scheduled your dental cleaning yet, then make sure you do. You should make this a part of your routine.
What Treatment Options are Available to Make My Teeth Pearly White?
Those who can’t prevent this problem have to figure out their next step. The following are a few solutions for you. Some are natural while others aren’t. It is up to you and your dentist to decide on the best solutions:
Oil pulling using natural, unrefined oils like coconut oil could help remove some surface stains. This specific oil also has lauric acid, which can help remove bacteria as well. Just take a spoonful of the oil and swish it in around your mouth for at least 15 minutes before spitting it out. Brush your teeth when you are done.
Baking Soda
The next thing to consider is making a paste from water and baking soda. This ingredient is harsh enough to remove surface stains without being so harsh that it damages your enamel. Try to brush your teeth with this mixture a few times a week in addition to everything else you are doing.
Dental Whitening
Teeth whitening is another option you have. Now, there are two ways you can apply a tooth-whitening solution. The first is by simply using a home kit that you can purchase online or in most pharmacies.
The second is visiting your dentist to have him or her apply the solution. If you go to the dentist, know that you are going to have to go a few times before you see results. If you choose to work with your dentist, then the results will likely be much more dramatic since the dentist is going to use a stronger whitening solution.
Those who choose to use a home kit are not going to see a dramatic change though there may be some change. All you have to do is follow the directions on the kit. Deep stains are probably going to have to be removed with the help of your dentist rather than the home whitening kit.
These are just some remedies out there for you, but there are many more like toothpaste with activated charcoal that could help remove surface stains. Talk to your dentist because he or she knows what’s going to work best for you depending on your specific situation.
