Why Are My Teeth Yellow? The Truth Behind Your Smile Color

Are you surprised at how yellow your teeth look? Despite brushing twice daily and taking care of them, there could still be reasons why your teeth are not as bright as you’d like. Yellow teeth are fairly common. 

Summit Dental Partners can help uncover the mystery behind your duller-than-desired teeth. Yellow teeth can result from genetics, food and drink habits, and other habits such as smoking. What makes your teeth yellow, and what can you do about it? Let’s explore!

Are Teeth Naturally Yellow?

Are teeth supposed to be white? This may be surprising, but teeth are not naturally bright white. Human teeth are an off-white color even when they’re new. 

Your tooth has three main layers. The enamel is the hard, protective outer shell. The dentin is the inner protective layer. 

Both protect the pulp, the soft, living center of the tooth. The enamel and dentin determine your tooth’s color. They’re also the portions of the tooth that can absorb stains over time. 

Are yellow teeth stronger? Yellow teeth aren’t necessarily stronger or weaker than other teeth. The color alone won’t change that. 

The strength and thickness of your enamel determine the strength of your teeth. Something would have to break down the enamel to weaken your teeth. Plaque and bacteria buildup due to a lack of brushing can do that.

Why Are My Teeth So Yellow? Yellow Teeth Causes

Are yellow teeth normal? Are yellow teeth stronger? Are yellow teeth normal? We’ve heard a lot of questions about the color of teeth and why they look yellow. 

Some people have darker teeth than others. The aging process also causes teeth to darken over time, and poor dental hygiene can be another factor. There are several causes of yellow teeth. 

Food and Drink Can Stain Teeth

Food and drink can discolor teeth over time. Beverages such as coffee, tea, soda, or red wine can stain teeth if they are consumed regularly. Berries, chocolate, carrots, and tomatoes can stain teeth, too. Poor oral hygiene can cause tooth stains to worsen.

Genetics and Medications

Some people are born with dark-colored teeth than others. There are many different shades of normal, healthy teeth. It’s simply part of your genetic makeup.

Some medications can also cause changes in your oral health, including discoloring your teeth. You can speak with your doctor if you notice changes in your oral health. There may be alternatives to the medication.

Smoking Makes Teeth Yellow

Smoking is one of the biggest causes of yellow teeth. Smoking can cause yellow teeth, yellow spots on teeth, yellow between teeth, and even yellow gums. 

Tobacco and chemicals stain teeth and gums and can weaken enamel, increasing the chances of tooth decay and gum disease. Smoking also penetrates the enamel and can stain down to the dentin, making it difficult to remove the stains. 

Yellow Teeth Despite Brushing

“Why are my teeth yellow when I brush them every day?” Brushing your teeth twice daily is important for good oral hygiene and preventing cavities. However, brushing alone can’t whiten your teeth; even the most powerful whitening toothpaste won’t make too much of an impact. 

Nonetheless, cleaning away bacteria and plaque regularly helps maintain good oral health! Brushing and flossing are essential to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Tooth decay can cause yellow spots on your teeth as it eats its way to the dentin and the pulp.

Brushing alone will not prevent your teeth from looking yellow, but there are ways to improve their appearance. 

How to Get Rid of Yellow Teeth

The best way to keep stains off your teeth is to brush and floss every day with a good fluoride toothpaste. It’s recommended that you floss at least once daily and brush at least twice a day for two minutes at a time. If you consume food and drink that stain, it may be better for you to brush after every meal. 

If you cannot brush after every meal, try rinsing your mouth with plain water. It will help remove some of the food and bacteria from your teeth and remove some of what can stain them. 

Teeth-whitening products such as toothpaste can slightly improve the color of your teeth over time, but they won’t have the effect that home whitening kits or professional dental whitening will have. Still, they should slightly improve stained teeth and keep future stains at bay.

The best way to keep your teeth from getting yellow is to stop smoking or using any tobacco products. This includes vaping and chewing tobacco. This will improve your health in many other ways, too.

Teeth Whitening in Summit, NJ

Yellow or off-white teeth aren’t unhealthy, but they may not be desirable to you. Home whitening kits with whitening strips may help, but they may not give you the desired results. Summit Dental Partners offers professional teeth whitening as a treatment option that is faster than home kits and produces amazing results. 

Schedule an appointment with Summit Dental Partners for teeth whitening in Summit, NJ. We can whiten your teeth and improve the look of your smile!