Teeth are the solid structures of the total human body. Teeth are most essential for chewing, besides that the teeth play an important role in speech.
Nowadays 90% of the people are suffering from yellow and brown teeth. Proper care should be taken to avoid this. Below are the different types of teeth colors.
1. Reddish Brown Teeth
2. Reddish Yellow
3. Gray Teeth
4. Reddish gray
So Why Does Your Teeth Color Change?
Now let’s look at the things that may be responsible for this.
Smoking
Smoking makes your teeth yellow because of the tar, nicotine and other chemicals that are present in it. These discharge into the pores of your tooth enamel, staining its natural color.
Among 100% population, 28% of smokers have moderate levels of tooth discoloration, compared to other non-smokers. As smokers are generally less satisfied with the state of their teeth, this might not be a problem for them but it definitely will not be the same when they face issues in the future.
Slack Oral Hygiene
If you observe a yellow coating on your teeth, it is doubtlessly called as plaque or tartar. Plaque forms when bacteria from food and drink particles aren’t cleaned thoroughly from your teeth. Over time, plaque hardening leads to form tartar, which can only be cured by a dentist or hygienist.
This yellow coating can form on or around your teeth if you don’t brush properly or thoroughly enough. Not only does it look bad, but also leads to bad breath and a whole load of other oral health issues.
Your Diet
It should not come as a big surprise that the things you consume through your mouth affect the color of your teeth. If your teeth become yellow, then it might be because of foods such as the following:
- Coffee and tea
- Red wine
- Curries
- Tomato sauces
- Berries
- Soy sauce
- Balsamic vinegar
- Beetroot.
There are various foods and drinks which might not cause staining directly, but they consist acids that eat away the tooth enamel. This reduces the ‘whiteness’ of your teeth and also leaves them more susceptible to staining. Few acidic foods are
- Fizzy drinks (heavily colored ones can also cause stains)
- Citrus fruits and juices
- Sports drinks
- Sugary foods
- Artificial sweeteners
- White wine and many other alcoholic drinks.
Ageing
As you get older wasn’t bad enough it is natural for your teeth to turn yellow as you age. This is because the starting protective enamel layer becomes thinner by revealing more of the yellow dentin underneath.
Genetics
If you have or had yellowish teeth all your life, your parents may be to blame for the reason. Genetic variances can affect tooth color and enamel porosity – and porous enamel is more liable to stain.
Medication or Illness
Some antibiotics such as tetracycline and amoxicillin can affect the color of your teeth, especially in the younger children. Drugs prescribed to adults for allergies and high blood pressure may also have this color changing effect.
Health Problems Related To Teeth Stains
Poor oral hygiene is one of the primary reasons for color changing in your teeth, plaque and tartar can lead to tooth decay, gum disease and many other problems. Below you can see many health problems which are related to teeth.
- Cavities: These may occur as they are holes that can damage tooth structure.
- Gingivitis: This causes bleeding and inflammation of the gums.
- Periodontitis: This is a condition which is also known as gum disease that is caused when bacteria present in our teeth produces harmful toxins that can damage the gum.
- Halitosis: which is also called as bad breath, it occurs when food is not removed properly, it will cause teeth staining and allows bacteria to grow in the mouth. This leads to cause xerostomia or dry mouth, sinus infections, chronic acid reflux, bronchitis, postnasal drip, kidney or liver problems.
Apart from the above oral health problems, gum disease and yellowish or change in color of your teeth can be a sign or lead to any of the following health problems:
- Celiac Disease: This is a disease where your immune system reacts to gluten in the diet. You should know that while yellow teeth do not cause celiac disease, they will be one of the signs of that condition.
- Bulimia: Sometimes over vomiting can cause yellow teeth which is an indication of bulimia which is an eating disorder.
- Diabetes: Most of the diabetics patients suffer from a weak immune system. This makes them more capable of gingivitis. When gingivitis is not treated, it causes periodontal disease. By this, your gums may get weak. When gums are weakened, bacteria can occupy the bloodstream and affect the immune system causing side effects like elevated blood sugar levels. Hence, we can see that this is a two-way street, yellow teeth can have a ripple effect, and that leads to diabetes.
- Heart Disease: Gum disease enhances the chances of atherosclerosis (clogged arteries) and heart disease. Poor oral hygiene can cause yellow teeth leading up to gum disease and can also worsen an existing heart issue.
- Stroke: These are caused by blocked arteries, and gum disease can enhance the changes of such blocks which are leading to more chances of a stroke.
- Premature Births: A pregnant woman with gum disease can go into premature labor, and there are chances of delivering the baby with low birth weight.
- Respiratory Diseases: After brushing yellow stains are not removed, it may leave bacteria to thrive leading to gum disease and the bacteria can have the chance to get lung problems or worsen lung infections if they already exist. This occurs more with the older people in whom the bacteria from the teeth may attack the lungs and lead to pneumonia.
As we can see our teeth can tell a lot about our health and also affect it. It is best to take care of them as they are a great asset.
What Can You Do To Prevent This?
Avoid Few Foods/Drinks When Possible
We’re not asking you to give up your morning coffee; it is enough if you just decrease the intake of the above foods as much as possible. Sometimes simply being aware can aid us to make better choices.
Drink Water
After you have consumed a tooth-staining food or drink, try to consume a glass of water immediately. Circulation of the water around your mouth can extremely help clear away the acids or staining. This simple step is free and easy and can also help reduce tooth discolouration.
Proper Dental Hygiene
Regular brushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups help you keep the teeth healthy for a lifetime. If you make these habits a routine, then it is less likely for you to have any dental problems down the line.
Teeth Whitening
The good news is that there are many options available to whiten teeth. A few can be done at home while other ways are for you to talk to your dental provider for determining the best solution suitable for you.
How To Whiten Teeth Naturally?
Here Are The Natural Teeth Whitening Home Remedies
1. Eat Strawberries
There are a lot of proofs that strawberries can help you get white teeth because it contains an enzyme which is called as malic acid and vitamin C. The astringent property which is found in strawberries aids to remove surface stains, while vitamin C cleans away plaque. Mashing a few strawberries into the mixture and brushing with that mixture once or twice a week can show you the positive results. You can also just eat strawberries, make sure to chew well and allow them to do the brushing on your tooth their own.
2. Floss Your Teeth
As you all know that flossing doesn’t come as easily to people as brushing. Still, many dentists and hygienists agree that flossing is more essential than brushing. You should do floss two times daily for the best and safe results. Just flossing can easily remove the staining between your teeth, helping them to look whiter.
3. Baking Soda And Lemon
Baking soda for teeth may be one of the most famous remedies of the natural teeth whitening at home. An amazing chemical response of baking soda with the citrus quality of lemon juice gives a smile-brightening effect. Either one of these ingredients also works well, but together they show super-effective results. You should only brush with this solution for 1 time in a week as it can wear away the tooth enamel if used too frequently.
Take a small bowl, mix a little bit of baking soda with the juice of a freshly squeezed lemon. The mixture should bubble slightly. By using a cotton cloth or ball, wipe saliva and excess plaque from your teeth before brushing with this mixture. Leave the mixture on your teeth for few seconds or for 1 minute before gently brushing it off with a toothbrush.
4. Eat Crunchy Fruits and Veggies
Fruits like Apples and vegetables like celery and carrots are miracle source for your teeth. Crunchy fruit or natural vegetables act like nature’s toothbrush. Simply chewing eliminates excess food and bacteria from your mouth. It also aids to scrub away surface stains. Not only does the texture eliminates all the food particles and bacteria, but the acids in the fruits and vegetables pull double duty, actually keeping the teeth whiter. Apples, in particular, consists of malic acid, the chemical also found in strawberries (and teeth whitening products) that removes surface stains.
5. Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is a well known natural remedy which is used primarily to enhance oral health and cleanse the body. The process is quite simple, safe, and very inexpensive. Firstly, take one tablespoon of pure, organic oil and swish it around in your mouth for 15-20 minutes. Move the oil around your jaw and mouth through sipping, sucking, and quietly pulling through your teeth. After rinsing, spit out the total oil, thoroughly rinse your mouth out with water, and consume 2-3 glasses purified water if possible.
6. Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide
As you all know that hydrogen peroxide can also be an effective remedy for teeth whitening. Hydrogen peroxide prevents the growth of bacteria, which can lead to preventing infections and prevents bad breath, which often results from bacteria. Simply swish some food-grade hydrogen peroxide (FGHP) around in your mouth for 2 minutes, then spit it out. Another choice would be to mix a 50/50 solution using FGHP with water and swish it around for 60 seconds.
7. Use a Straw
Coffee, tea, soda, and wine can all lead serious damage to the enamel of your teeth. Whenever you drink anything among them, use a straw to decrease direct exposure to teeth. If drinking your coffee or wine out of a straw is more embarrassing than discoloured teeth, just ensure to brush after drinking these beverages – except after drinking white wine.
If your problem is severe, you can opt for dental treatments.
Below You Can Know About Treatments
Teeth whitening is an easy process. Whitening products contain one of the two tooth bleaches (hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide). These bleaches can break stains into small pieces, which makes the colour less concentrated and your teeth a little brighter.
Does Whitening Work on All Teeth?
No, for this it is important to consult your dentist first before deciding to whiten your teeth, as whiteners may not correct for all types of discolouration. For example, yellow teeth will doubtlessly bleach well; brown teeth may not show the same result and teeth with gray tones may not bleach at all. You should also remember one thing that whitening generally will not work on caps, veneers, crowns or fillings. It also won’t be effective if your tooth discoloration is caused by medications or a tooth injury.
A healthy and bright smile is undoubtedly something to be happy about. By following above teeth whitening tips and eating healthy foods, not surprisingly, can go a long way in ensuring your teeth stay white for years to come. This can make your tooth whiten without breaking the bank or exposing you to unknown chemicals and natural bleaches in the dentist’s office.
