Ohio Cosmetic Dentistry

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Why are my teeth so yellow?

There are several things that cause teeth to darken, including:
1. Foods/ Drinks
a. Coffee, tea, colas, wines, and certain fruits and vegetables (ex. Apples and potatoes)
2. Tobacco
a. Smoking cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and even smokeless tobacco
3. Poor Dental Hygiene
a. Inadequate brushing and flossing, cause plaque to build up, and stains to adhere to the plaque.
4. Disease
a. Several diseases affect enamel and dentin, and treatment for certain conditions, ex. Head and neck radiation and chemotherapy, and also certain infections in pregnant mothers can cause tooth discoloration in the infants by affecting their enamel development.
5. Medications
a. Certain medications, such as tetracycline and doxycycline, when given to children while their teeth are still developing (before age 8), have been known to discolor teeth.
b. Certain mouthrinses and washes containing chlorhexidine can stain teeth.
c. Antihistamines (such as benadryl), antipsychotic drugs, and antihypertensive medications may also cause tooth discoloration.
6. Dental Materials
a. Some materials used to restore a cavity, such as amalgam, can cast a gray-black color to teeth.
7. Age
a. As you age, the enamel on your teeth gets worn away revealing the more natural yellow color of the dentin that lies beneath.
8. Genetics
a. Some people are just born with naturally whiter and brighter teeth because they have thicker enamel than others.
9. Environment
a. Excessive fluoride from environmental sources (high fluoride in water sources) or from excessive use (fluoride applications, rinses, toothpaste, and fluoride supplements) can also cause tooth discoloration.
10. Trauma
a. Damage from a fall can disturb enamel formation in young children’s teeth, which are still developing. Trauma can also cause discoloration to adult teeth, by the nerve possibly dying off, it will cause the tooth to turn grayish, because of lack of nutrients to the tooth.

To prevent tooth discoloration, you can change just a few everyday habits. Such as cutting back on the number of cigarettes you may smoke if you are a smoker, or limiting the amount of coffee that you may drink regularly. Also, by just improving your hygiene by brushing and flossing more regularly, you will cut down on the amount of stain adhering to the residual plaque. Another way to nip stain in the bud is by visiting your dental hygienist for regular cleanings and check-ups.

If your teeth appear to be an abnormal color without any explanation, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please make an appointment to see your dentist, and they will be able to assess your current dental condition, along with your medical and dental history to be able to set up a treatment plan for you, to help you to eliminate further stain, and possibly improve the current color of your teeth.

Treatment options vary depending on the type of stain and how bad the stain is, but treatment may include one or a combination of the following.
1. Proper toothbrushing and flossing techniques
2. Avoiding foods and beverages that cause the stain
3. Bonding
4. Veneers
5. Whitening agents
a. At-home
b. In-office
c. Toothpaste

posted by Dr. Barkett at 7:05 AM