Have you ever looked at a movie stars shining white smile and wondered at their secret? Ever bemoaned the fact that you don’t have their dentist? The fact is that even if you did it wouldn’t matter because a lot of the pictures that we see are altered to appear perfect. Teeth are not supposed to be pearly white but if your teeth are very yellow there are things you can do. So what causes yellow teeth?
Most of us enjoy a little something that we know is bad for us. Unfortunately things like red wine, coffee, tea, cola and berries and sugary food are the very things that can stain our teeth and turn them yellow. Too much sugar erodes the enamel on your teeth making them more susceptible to staining.
If you have children under eight then you might be aware that their teeth have not fully developed yet. Because of this be aware that giving them certain antibiotics such as Tetracycline and Doxycycline can cause future discoloration of their teeth. If you use mouthwashes that contain chlorhexidine you may also be at a higher risk of tooth discoloration.
Yellowing teeth are not necessarily caused by something that you put in your mouth. Trauma to a tooth can result in the root getting damaged therefore causing discoloration of the tooth. Medical treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy to the neck and head can also cause your teeth to look yellow.
It is one of the facts of life that as you get older parts of your body stop working as well, and your teeth are no exception. As you get older your tooth enamel begins to wear away, revealing the naturally yellow dentine beneath. Genetics also plays a part in determining how yellow your teeth might be.
Before you get treatment to whiten your smile you need to ascertain what the cause of the discoloration is as this will determine the treatment you need. Your dentist can offer you a number of options if your tooth discoloration is due to age or food staining. These options include veneers and tooth whitening. Damage to the tooth needs to be repaired before whitening can be considered.
Simply maintaining a regular and thorough oral hygiene that includes brushing and flossing, especially after eating is the best thing you can do for your teeth. For discoloration due to other factors such as medical treatment or ageing further measures may need to be taken to restore your smile. Your dentist is the best person to ask about appropriate treatments.
Yellow teeth are caused by many factors. Learn more how to whiten your teeth.
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