Are yellow teeth a sign of poor oral health? Not necessarily.
Most of us have associated good oral health with sparkly white teeth. We have been convinced that this is the standard due to Social media, Celebrities and toothpaste advertisements. But infact, it can be completely normal for our teeth to have a bit of yellow tint to them and naturally healthy teeth aren’t always bright white. The “ Hollywood smile “ we see are often not natural.
So what actually causes yellowing of the teeth?
Natural causes:
These are usually harmless.
Natural tooth colour
Underneath the thin enamel, the dentin has a yellowish tint to it and this can cause the appearance of yellowish teeth depending on the thickness of the enamel.
Genetics
Some people are born with naturally thinner or more translucent enamel. Others may have dentin with a slightly deeper yellow shade.
However, tooth discolouration due to rare inherited developmental defects in enamel or dentin should be evaluated by a dentist.
Aging
The enamel wears down as we age so naturally the teeth can appear more yellow.
Life style and health related causes:
These can usually be prevented or managed with lifestyle changes and timely dental care.
Consuming coffee, tea, red wine for a prolonged period of time
Long term exposure of the teeth to chromogens, tannins and acids from these drinks can cause staining.
Smoking and tobacco chewing
The nicotine and tar from smoking seep into the pores of the enamel and gives a dull appearance of the teeth.
Frequent tobacco chewing such as gutka, khaini, paan causes dark stains and also promotes plaque and tarter build up.
Poor oral hygiene
Visible unsightly discolouration due to plaque build up.
Certain medications
Antibiotics: tetracycline and doxycycline Antihistamines: diphenhydramine and citirizine
Antihypertensives: Calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers
Chlorhexidine mouthwash
Causes brown surface staining of the teeth as a side effect.
While yellow teeth can be perfectly healthy and normal, they can also result from plaque and tarter build up due to poor oral hygiene and in such cases, it is usually accompanied with bad breath, bleeding gums or cavities, making a dental check-up very important. One shouldn’t ignore these signs.
Tooth colour alone isn’t a reliable indicator of oral health. Like our skin tone and hair colour, healthy teeth come in different shades. Instead of chasing the perfect set of bright white teeth, focusing on maintaining good oral hygiene and regular dental visits goes a long way.