What makes teeth yellow | Causes and Solutions

What makes teeth yellow. Certain foods and beverages are some of the primary culprits that stain teeth over time. Coffee, tea, red wine, berries and dark sodas contain compounds that gradually deposit and tint enamel yellow. 

Tobacco smoking also strongly stains teeth due to nicotine. Poor oral hygiene allows plaque and tartar buildup on teeth surfaces. So, how do you remove yellow stains from teeth.

Addressing the root causes along with consistent dental care and stain-removal strategies can help reverse many yellow tooth stains over time. Seeing a dentist helps identify more stubborn discoloration sources.

Teeth turning yellow suddenly

• Medications: Certain antibiotics, antidepressants or chemotherapy drugs are known to rapidly deposit staining compounds on teeth. This is usually temporary resolving after treatment ends.
• Nutritional changes: A new diet low in important vitamins/minerals can impact enamel formation, causing subtle tooth color changes within weeks or months.
• Underlying illness: Conditions like liver disease may cause yellowing as pigments abnormally deposit in teeth and gums. Requires medical evaluation.
• Tooth trauma: Severe injuries disrupting enamel could allow underlying dentin layers to show through faster, changing the teeth’s shade.
• Other issues: Rare genetic disorders, excessive fluoride intake, or gingivitis-linked recession in severe cases.

See a dentist for accurate diagnosis. Treatment may involve stain removal or addressing the specific underlying cause if identified. Most sudden tooth discolorations are temporary and preventable.

What deficiency causes yellow teeth?

• Vitamin D deficiency .Not enough vitamin D prevents proper calcium and phosphate absorption in enamel, leading to dull grey-yellow teeth.
• Vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) .Severely low vitamin C results in bleeding gums and loose pale yellow teeth as collagen production is hampered.
• Riboflavin (B2) deficiency .May cause teeth feel loose or spots on teeth’s edges as this vitamin aids tooth development.
• Iron deficiency (anemia) . Over time, lack of iron weakens tooth enamel, making it thinner and more translucent yellow.

Deficiencies can be caused by poor diet, absorption issues, medications or other illness. Seeing a medical provider is recommended to identify the specific deficiency and successfully treat resultant tooth discoloration through dietary changes or supplements.

Are yellow teeth healthy?

Noticeable tooth discoloration is not necessarily problematic itself but may reflect underlying oral, lifestyle or systemic health factors deserving attention through optimized care, diet or lifestyle changes for overall well-being.

In rarer cases, yellowing relates to issues like acid erosion or genetics receiving dental treatments

While yellow teeth may not necessarily indicate an immediate health problem, there can be underlying reasons why they developed their discoloration:

• Certain nutritional deficiencies linked to weaker enamel and yellow teeth over time, such as vitamin D or iron. Addressing these improves both teeth and overall health.
• Poor oral hygiene raising risks of gum disease, infection and tooth decay. Yellowing may show this need for better cleaning habits.
• Heavy smoking stains teeth significantly and dramatically raises cancer and heart risks. Yellowing serves as a reminder of smoking’s many negative health impacts. And some think does vaping make your teeth yellow. Yes vaping also make your teeth yellow.
• Some medications like antibiotics can temporarily stain while prescribed, but continued usage may signal unresolved health issues needing review.
• Occasionally, yellow teeth result from severe acid erosion or genetic factors that receive dental treatment.

What makes teeth yellow

Certain foods and beverages . Strongly staining compounds in coffee, tea, red wine, berries and dark sodas can deposit on teeth over time with habitual consumption.

Tobacco use . Smoking exposes teeth to yellowing nicotine stains each time. Frequency and length of smoking habit impacts severity.

Oral hygiene .When plaque and tartar buildup from missed brushings/flossings isn’t regularly removed, it mineralizes on teeth altering their color.

Age-related enamel wear .As the years pass, outer layers of tooth enamel naturally thinning can expose an underlying yellower dentin layer.

Genetics .Some people are predisposed to less protection from stains due to tooth structure traits from birth.

Underlying health issues .Nutritional deficiencies in vitamins like D or C, liver/kidney disease, can subtly impact enamel pigment.

Dental trauma/injuries .Severe damage disrupting the enamel layer may expedite underlying shade showing through.

Certain medications .Antibiotics, antidepressants, cancer drugs are known to stain teeth during usage.

Addressing controllable factors like diet, hygiene and lifestyle through dental care helps keep teeth their whitest. Seeking help uncovers any hidden causes too.

8 COMMON REASONS FOR STAINED ON TEETH

1. Coffee, tea and wine consumption . Compounds in these beverages can stain teeth when consumed regularly.
2. Smoking tobacco . The chemicals in cigarettes, including nicotine, attach to teeth and gums to cause yellowish staining.
3. Eating berries and dark fruits . Anthocyanins in berries like blueberries can leave behind a purple tint on teeth.
4. Not brushing enough .When plaque and tartar buildup is not removed, it calcifies onto teeth and changes their color.
5. Medication intake .Certain antibiotics or antidepressants are known to cause temporary or permanent staining.
6. Acidic foods and drinks . Frequent consumption of citrus fruits/juices or soda can wear away enamel over years.
7. Aging process .As outer layers of enamel naturally thin with time, the inner yellow dentin becomes more visible.
8. Nutritional deficiencies .Lack of sufficient vitamins, minerals and/or iron in diet affects tooth formation and shade.

How to get rid of yellowish teeth

is there a way to get rid of yellow teeth? Yes. Be consistent, avoiding staining triggers. Most importantly, see your dentist for professional opinion on deep/hard stains.

Strawberry and Baking Soda Scrub

• A simple and effective home whitening treatment uses strawberries and baking soda. Mash 2-3 fresh berries into a paste and mix with 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda powder. 
• The lactic acid and other bleaching agents in strawberries, combined with baking soda’s abrasiveness, help lift surface stains on teeth. Apply the paste to a wet toothbrush and scrub it onto all tooth surfaces for 2 minutes, focusing on problem areas. 
• Let it sit for an extra minute while continuing to brush. Rinse thoroughly when done. 

Activated Coconut Charcoal

• Wet brush dip in coconut-based activated charcoal powder.
• Gently brush all tooth surfaces for 2 minutes, massaging charcoal into problem areas.
• Let charcoal sit for 10 minutes to penetrate deep stains before rinsing fully.
• Coconut charcoal is gentle yet highly effective at absorbing stains.

Toothpaste Whitening Booster

• Add a pinch of baking soda and 1/2 tsp 3% hydrogen peroxide to your regular toothpaste.
• Brush as normal, paying extra attention to lingual/back tooth surfaces.
• This amplifies your toothpaste’s staining-fighting ingredients for targeted brightening.

Lemon and Baking Soda Bath

• Cut a lemon in half and rub cut surfaces all over teeth and gums for 2 minutes.
• Let sit while preparing a baking soda bath by dissolving 1/4 cup in warm water.
• Soak teeth in the solution for 10 minutes before rinsing and brushing.
• The dual acid-abrasion method lifts even stubborn stains.

Conclusion

1. Coffee, tea, wine, berries and dark sodas can cause tooth stains due to their content over time.
2. The chemicals in cigarettes, especially nicotine, leave teeth yellowish. The more and longer smoked, the worse the stains.
3. If plaque and tartar aren’t removed regularly, they harden on teeth and change their color. Proper brushing prevents stains.
4. Over the years, outer enamel layers thin and the inner yellow dentin shows through more. Genes also impact stain protection.
5. Conditions such as vitamin or mineral shortages from diet, or liver disease, may impact enamel color in subtle ways. Identifying and addressing the root cause helps teeth and overall health.