A wide range of triggers and changes can turn teeth yellow, from thin tooth enamel and gum disease to certain foods. You may feel embarrassed and frustrated if you struggle with yellow teeth or yellowish tooth stains. Here are ten tips on how to get rid of yellow teeth, from baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to lifestyle changes and professional treatment.
Tip 1: Brush With a Whitening Toothpaste
Some whitening toothpaste use abrasives such as baking soda or activated charcoal for extrinsic stain removal. Others use tooth bleaching agents to reverse tooth discolouration. Bleach-based whitening toothpaste may prove safer than activated charcoal if your enamel has already grown thin. Ask your dentist to recommend a novel dentifrice with the right ingredients to eliminate yellow teeth stains.
Tip 2: Use Over-the-Counter Teeth Whitening Products
If surface stains have darkened your tooth colour, over-the-counter tooth whitening products may help. Whitening strips or a whitening gel containing hydrogen peroxide can make mildly stained teeth whiter. However, deeply stained teeth may need bleaching gel of a stronger concentration than you can get over the counter.
Tip 3: Avoid Foods and Beverages That Stain
Red wine, black tea, coffee, and other mealtime favourites can stain your teeth. Dark-coloured berries may contain valuable nutrients such as vitamin C but can also leave stains. If you consume these foods or beverages, do so in moderation, rinsing and brushing afterwards to keep your teeth stain-free.
Tip 4: Give Home Remedies a Chance
Popular home remedies to get rid of yellow teeth include baking soda, hydrogen peroxide rinses, coconut oil pulling, orange peel applications, and apple cider vinegar. Coconut oil pulling can help remove stains and food particles safely, while apple cider vinegar can protect your gums against bacteria. However, exercise caution with any remedy containing citric acid since excessive exposure can damage enamel. Enamel damage can turn teeth yellow instead of achieving the desired whitening effect.
Tip 5: Don’t Use Tobacco Products
Chewing tobacco and other tobacco products can leave stains, causing teeth to turn yellow or brown. Tobacco use also reduces saliva production, making your teeth more vulnerable to stains and decay. This habit also raises your risk for oral cancer.
Tip 6: Help Your Mouth Produce More Saliva
In addition to avoiding things that reduce your saliva, you can enjoy treats that keep your teeth healthy by helping your mouth produce more saliva. Examples include sugar-free candies or chewing sugar-free gum. More saliva means more protection against oral bacteria and plaque buildup.
Tip 7: Schedule Clinical Teeth Whitening Procedures
Clinical teeth whitening procedures administered by a dental professional can give you a dazzling white smile in just a few treatments. Dentists can safely apply a much stronger carbamide peroxide bleaching gel than you’ll find in over-the-counter teeth whitening options. Laser light can speed the curing process and enhance the effectiveness of the teeth whitening procedure.
Tip 8: Practise Proper Dental Hygiene
Good dental hygiene can help prevent plaque buildup, reducing your risk for periodontal diseases such as plaque-related gingivitis that expose the dentine below the gum line. Gently brush your teeth to avoid subjecting the gums or enamel to unnecessary damage. A professional cleaning can also help in removing extrinsic stain problems. Advanced dental tools can remove calcified tissue, food particles, and other potential causes of stains.
Tip 9: Don’t Grind Your Teeth
Your dental hard tissues include both enamel and dentine. Chronic tooth grinding can strip away the enamel, exposing the yellowish dentin underneath. Preventing premature wear can prove just as critical for your teeth as maintaining your daily oral hygiene routine. Ask your dentist to equip you with a custom mouth guard to protect your teeth from unconscious grinding.
Tip 10: Get Dental Veneers
Enamel wears out as part of the natural ageing process, making the underlying dentine visible. Since dentine has a yellowish colour, this change results in yellowing teeth. Certain medications can also cause permanent staining that conservative teeth whitening strategies can’t fix. If you face such a challenge, ask your dentist to apply dental veneers. These restorations placed on the outer layer of the teeth can cover irreversible tooth discolouration by simulating naturally white enamel.
Would you like more advice on how to get rid of yellow teeth? Dana Street Dental can help you keep your teeth clean and enjoy a whiter smile through professional stain removal techniques or even a total smile makeover. Contact our dental clinic today.
