Why Are My Teeth Still Yellow?

People have the popular misunderstanding that teeth should be perfectly white, but this is not the case. We believe you when you say you brush your teeth daily, but the colour remains yellow, as teeth discolour over time.

It is not your fault and is beyond your control because the colour of your teeth is determined by factors other than just brushing them.

What causes yellow teeth?

If you brush your teeth every day and the yellow staining does not whiten, it signifies the discoloration is due to intrinsic staining rather than extrinsic staining. The toothbrush will not be capable of removing deeply embedded stains in your tooth because the bristles can only reach the outside surface of your tooth.

Stains that are intrinsic vs. extrinsic

The intrinsic type of yellow staining is tightly bonded to the organic matrix of your enamel and will not be removed by brushing alone. They are harder to eliminate, so brushing with whitening toothpaste would have negligible effect. Much more is required to remove these stains.

Extrinsic yellow stains, on the other hand, are quite simple to eliminate because they are located on the outside of your tooth. This allows your toothbrush to easily remove these stains.

Benefits of brushing your teeth regularly

• Can make teeth whiter and keep them whiter for longer, despite having negligible effect on removing intrinsic stains, because extrinsic stains left on your teeth will make them look darker, therefore constantly removing these stains will prevent extrinsic stains from becoming intrinsic ones.

• Effectively removes extrinsic stains that have accumulated as plaque and tartar. Stains from foods and other dietary habits can make your teeth look unappealing.

• Can help you avoid tooth discoloration caused by plaque and tartar.

• Help to prevent additional staining. Even if your teeth are still yellow after brushing them every day, you should continue to do so because it can prevent them from becoming more yellow. Allowing external stains to accumulate will eventually cause them to incorporate into your teeth and become the unwanted internal staining.

This means that keeping up with your oral hygiene routine will keep your teeth whiter for longer.

How to Avoid Yellow Teeth

It is much more difficult to whiten your teeth once they have turned yellow, so it is best to prevent them from turning yellow in the first place. The best way to prevent yellow teeth is to practise good brushing and dietary habits, as well as to whiten your teeth on a regular basis.

Have good oral hygiene habits

You should brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes twice a day. Following that, floss your teeth to remove any food and debris that may have become lodged in the nooks and crannies of your teeth. Finally, use a mouth rinse to remove any residue left in your mouth after brushing and flossing.

Have good dietary habits

You will not have to worry about your teeth yellowing if you avoid staining foods and drinks. Even if you cannot because you cannot live without coffee and tea, you should try to limit your intake. Then, after drinking the coffee and tea, rinse your mouth with a glass of water.

You should also eat calcium-rich foods to keep your teeth healthy and strong overall. Calcium and phosphate are two of the major building blocks for your teeth, so including enough of them in your daily diet is always a promising idea.

Whiten your teeth periodically

Even if your teeth are not that discoloured, you can whiten them to keep them from discolouring. This way, even if they stain slightly, they will still be whiter than if you had not done it at all. Many people do maintenance whitening once a month for this reason alone.

Get your dental check-up and teeth cleaning

It is critical to have biannual check-ups and have your teeth cleaned because your dentist can remove most of the extrinsic staining for you. While you’re in the dental chair, you can also ask them about teeth whitening. They will gladly walk you through the various whitening options.

Professional Teeth Whitening Treatments

Visiting a dental clinic is the best and safest way to achieve a whiter, brighter smile.

Your dentist may make several recommendations based on your teeth and desired appearance. You may be offered an in-office bleaching treatment or custom-made whitening trays to use at home, for example. Both options will give you a brighter, more radiant smile, and you can be confident that the results will be quick, safe, and long-lasting.

If you want to learn more about getting whiter teeth in a safe and effective way, please contact our team at Ascent Dental Care. Our dentists know which teeth whitening treatments will work best for you and are happy to help.

Check out our teeth whitening page to learn more on how we can help you on your journey to whiter teeth and a more beautiful smile!