Why Are My Teeth Turning Yellow?

Yellow teeth can have many causes, and not all of them center around oral hygiene and dental visits (although these are highly important). If you just can’t keep your teeth from yellowing, we have a solution. 

 At Lancaster Dental Care Associates in Lancaster, California, Dr. Kamram Saidara and his team of dental specialists can help deal with yellowing permanently by installing porcelain veneers or we also offer teeth whitening, with in-office or at-home options. 

Leading causes of yellow teeth

Yellowing teeth can always be a side effect of failing to brush or floss, and letting plaque build up into a nasty overlay, but in many cases yellowing is caused by other factors.

Aging

It’s a sad fact that the enamel on your teeth isn’t impervious to everything, and time can wear it away to expose the yellowish dentin underneath. If you smoke or chew tobacco, this not only happens faster, but the remaining enamel can get deeply stained as well.

Medications or medical treatments

There are certain types of medications and medical therapies that can cause yellowing of the teeth. Even if you just had specific types of antibiotics given to you as a child, it can mean a lifetime of discolored teeth.

Food and drink

There are many teeth staining foods and beverages. If you commonly drink or eat any of the following, you may notice stains starting to show up on your teeth:

• Berries
• Coffee
• Red wine
• Soda
• Soy sauce
• Tea
• Tomato sauces 

A good way to prevent staining is to rinse your mouth out and drink water after eating or drinking any of the above, and brush as soon as possible.

Bruxism 

Constantly grinding or clenching your teeth, known as bruxism, can also damage your enamel; letting the dentin show through and discoloring your smile. It can also damage your teeth structurally, so ask us about a night guard to keep from continuing this habit when you are asleep.  

Tooth whitening

For some people, tooth whitening can easily restore a brightness to their smile. Lancaster Dental Care Associates offers both at-home whitening systems you can use daily, or in-office whitening that delivers faster results. Tooth whitening depends on a bleaching agent to lighten stains and make your teeth look whiter than before. However, tooth whitening doesn’t work for everyone.

Porcelain veneers

If your teeth have experienced severe enamel damage, all the whitening in the world may not be enough to brighten your smile, and your teeth will just get sensitive instead. Porcelain veneers are wafer thin shells that fit over the front faces of your teeth to create a brilliant, white, and even smile. We can use veneers to solve the issue of yellowed teeth, while also covering flaws like chips, cracks, unevenness, and more.

To learn more about whitening or veneers, call our office at 661-215-8130 to book a consultation with a member of our team, or request an appointment online today.