1. A Beautiful Youthful Smile Will Take You Places
The last thing you want to do is let down your appearance or age yourself by neglecting your teeth. Maintain good oral hygiene and avoid anything that damages or discolors your teeth otherwise they will become yellow, your breath will smell and you will look older and less attractive. Knocking or injuring a tooth affects the nerve and blood supply which causes dental trauma and discoloration. Excessive use of fluoride can trigger a condition called dental fluorosis which also stains the teeth. And beware of using chlorhexidine mouthwash; while it reduces bacteria, prolonged use can stain the teeth and leave them yellow.
2. Poor Dental Hygiene
Good dental hygiene is important for your general health and if you don’t take proper care of your teeth and gums it can lead to cavities, discoloration, gum disease, and more serious health issues according to an article in Healthline. It’s important to brush for two minutes morning and night and floss after every meal. If not plaque and tartar build up causing discoloration. Using a hard-bristled brush can also damage tooth enamel and make teeth yellow.
3. Effects of Smoking
Apart from negatively impacting your health, heart, hair, and skin, smoking can discolor teeth. The nicotine and tar in tobacco contribute to yellow and brown stains on teeth and this can make you look less attractive.
4. Alcohol Discoloration
You may have seen or experienced the temporary effects of red wine teeth when your pearly whites turn purple after a glass or two of Pinot. Over the long term, the acids, tannins, anthocyanins, and dyes in red wine can permanently stain the teeth, leaving them looking discolored and yellow.
5. Acidic Drinks
Wellness experts will have you believe that starting your day with lemon water or a shot of apple cider vinegar can flush out toxins in the body, improve gut health, boost hydration, and even support weight loss. Lemon and apple cider vinegar however are highly acidic and when excessively consumed can erode teeth enamel causing discoloration.
6. Supplement Side Effects
Some vitamins and dietary supplements can affect the health and appearance of your teeth. Gummy vitamins are high in sugar and citric acids which stick to the teeth, wearing down the enamel, and causing discoloration. Liquid iron supplements are also a culprit for turning teeth yellow as are taking excessive fluoride supplements.
7. Dry Mouth
Experts advise women to drink 2.7 liters of water every day to maintain their health and keep the body and skin hydrated. Drinking water also keeps the mouth hydrated and helps wash away food particles and bacteria that can stain teeth.
8. Food Factor
A diet high in sugar and heavy in carbohydrates can promote tooth decay which leads to staining. Like red wine, highly pigmented foods such as raspberries, blueberries, soy sauce, and curry can also discolor the teeth and make them look yellow and aged.
9. Sugary Sodas
In addition to their high sugar content, which is bad for your health and your gum health, soda drinks have high acidity. They are also loaded with coloring agents and both can erode teeth enamel and cause staining.
10. Caffeine Caution
Your daily cup of joe could be the culprit that’s causing your teeth to appear yellow. The dark pigments, tannins, and acidity in coffee and tea, especially black tea, and taking your coffee black contributes to discoloration and staining.
11. Grinding Teeth
If you are a grinder, a condition known as bruxism, you are wearing down the enamel of your teeth and making them look yellow. The cause of bruxism— clenching, grinding, or gnashing your teeth during sleep— is often related to stress, anxiety, genetics, sleep issues, drinking alcohol, and smoking.
12. Genetic Discoloration
As we age, the enamel of our teeth wears down revealing the yellow dentin behind our pearly whites. The rate at which we age is mostly down to genetics and unfortunately, some people are born with thinner teeth enamel or more yellow-toned dentin.
13. Medication Warning
Some medications can cause teeth staining and dry mouth which decreases saliva production impacting the natural cleansing of the teeth. On the list of yellow teeth offenders are antibiotics such as tetracycline and doxycycline, along with antihistamines and high blood pressure medications.
14. Wrong Lipstick
The wrong lipstick shade can create a severe contrast on your skin, age your appearance and also make your teeth look yellow. Warm shades with yellow undertones like orange, red-orange, and coral make teeth appear more yellow while flat nude, beige, and brown shades make them look dull. The best shades to make your teeth look brighter are reds with blue undertones, cool pale pinks, and muted purple and plum.
15. Chlorine Exposure
If you’re an avid swimmer note that continued exposure to chlorinated water can lead to dental discoloration and enamel erosion creating yellow or brown spots on the teeth. This is known as swimmer’s calculus. Try to keep your mouth closed when doing laps and swish fresh water around your mouth to keep it hydrated and wash away residual chlorine after the pool.