Preventing and treating yellow teeth

Yellow teeth are one of the main aesthetic problems in adult dentition. Generally associated with poor dental hygiene and/or unhealthy practices, it causes a lack of self-esteem and, in many cases, causes the patient to avoid situations in which social relations are favoured.

However, by following a few tips, the original smile can be restored.

The reasons for yellow teeth

Looking at the reasons why your smile turns yellow, you will probably recognise several of them in your daily habits. There is usually not just one reason for yellow teeth, but a combination of them.

Your genetics

Like so much else, we inherit the quality and thickness of our enamel, which, in the long term, will determine the resilience to daily wear and tear and therefore the colour of your teeth.

Enamel ages

It’s a natural process. As you get older, your tooth enamel deteriorates due to wear and tear. Ageing leads to a yellowing of the enamel that can be prevented by caring for and protecting it in your daily life.

Insufficient oral hygiene

Lack of brushing, flossing and mouthwash accelerate the discolouration process due to the accumulation of plaque and tartar, which sticks to the tooth and causes it to change colour.

Smoking

Products present in tobacco, such as tar, stain your teeth and darken them, making a smoker’s teeth easily recognisable.

This cause of yellow teeth is one of the main causes of tooth whitening consultations.

Consumption of certain substances

Such as coffee, tea or wine, which contain pigments that stain your teeth. Long-term regular consumption will eventually turn your teeth yellow. These are usually superficial stains that are relatively easy to remove.

The consumption of acidic foods (lemon, vinegar, etc…) wears away the enamel, leaving the dentine visible, yellow in colour. This process is easily recognisable because it is usually associated with dental sensitivity to cold and heat caused by the weakening of the enamel.

Consumption of medication

The use of some antibiotics, such as doxycycline and tetracycline, is a factor in causing yellow teeth. Antihistamines, antidepressants and blood pressure medications can also cause yellow teeth.

In this case, the patient should wait until the end of the treatment for which these medications are administered before starting tooth whitening.

Congenital diseases

Dentinogenesis or amelogenesis imperfecta, both hereditary diseases that cause abnormalities in tooth development resulting in a yellowish discolouration.

Fluorosis

Excessive use of fluoride, used in toothpastes, mouthwashes, drinking water or supplements, causes discolouration of the tooth surface in the form of stains or streaks.

Traumatic necrosis

A blow to a tooth can cause necrosis of the nerve, which often causes the tooth to darken or yellow.

Treatment of other diseases

Certain diseases or treatments to combat them, such as chemotherapy and radiation, can cause tooth discolouration leading to yellow teeth.

Removal of yellow stains on the teeth

Although we tend to think that tooth stains are a difficult problem to solve, nothing could be further from the truth.

Once the dentist determines the source of the stains, he or she will establish the appropriate treatment, which may be one of the following.

Oral cleaning

In the case of superficial stains, usually caused by smoking, coffee, tea, etc…, removal is the easiest. A professional and thorough oral cleaning will remove these stains and reverse the effect of yellow teeth.

Tooth whitening

We reserve tooth whitening for more complex cases, where the stain has already penetrated the enamel.

The specialists at Clinicas Udemax perform the exclusive Kör teeth whitening. Kör Whitening is the most effective tooth whitening system in the world today, capable of eliminating all types of dental stains and with almost permanent results.

Veneers

In extreme cases, dental veneers are recommended.

If the level of dental staining is extensive and deep, an initial tooth whitening should be carried out before using porcelain or composite veneers. This is because veneers are usually thin and translucent to provide naturalness in their use which, in the case of not having carried out the previous whitening, would allow the stains to show through the veneers.

Preventing the reappearance of yellow teeth

Regardless of the treatment applied, in order to maintain the result in the medium and long term, it is essential to eliminate the factor that caused the stains and to maintain good dental hygiene.

For this reason

• The teeth and gums should be cleaned after each meal using an electric toothbrush, with a rotating head if possible.
• Use dental floss after cleaning with the toothbrush.
• Renew the toothbrush head every three months.
• Moderation in the ingestion of foods that damage or stain the enamel.
• Elimination of smoking.

Our dentists specialised in dental aesthetics will carry out a free exploratory visit in which they will diagnose the cause of the staining and the appropriate treatment to eliminate it.