Treating Yellow Teeth
How to Get Rid of Yellow Teeth and Other Discolouration
You might have seen online recommendations for various home remedies that can help get rid of yellow teeth. But as dentists we know that whilst you might be able to control surface stains, at-home remedies won't be effective at treating underlying causes of yellow teeth like enamel wear that's exposed the dentin or how teeth naturally yellow as you age.
The recommended treatment solution will depend on the cause of your yellow teeth
Dentists can help identify the cause of your yellow teeth and recommend treatments to help whiten them and keep them looking bright.
For example, tooth whitening is not always recommended. We can whiten teeth with a hygiene treatment called AirFlow, which is cheaper or recommend other cosmetic treatments for teeth that specifically target yellow teeth caused by enamel erosion.
Why your teeth are yellow
There are several causes for yellow teeth:
- Age – calcified tissue underneath the enamel called dentist, which is yellowish in colour, is exposed as the white enamel on teeth becomes worn over time. Learn more.
- Stains – compounds like the foods you eat and the drinks you frequently consume can stain the surface of the tooth. Smoking also increases the risk of staining.
- Plaque build-up – if you have gum disease, the formation of plaque can give a yellow tinge to your teeth, and if you have tartar, it can be difficult to remove without the intervention of a dentist or hygienist. Poor oral hygiene is a cause.
- Dental decay – a yellow hue near the gum line is often an early sign of tooth decay, gum disease or other underlying dental conditions.
- Oral trauma and excessive fluoride consumption can cause internal damage to the tooth discolouring it.
Different dental treatments for yellow teeth
- Composite bonding for enamel erosion from £150.
- Porcelain or composite veneers for enamel erosion from £250.
- Airflow teeth cleaning and hygiene cleaning for minimal tooth staining from £155.
- Tooth whitening for heavier surface staining from £360.
- Dental crowns for teeth that are turning brown or black due to heavy decay from £950.
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Be cautious of certain at-home recommendations
There’s a reason why dentists are involved when consulting on the whitening of teeth. Exposing your teeth to hydrogen peroxide without the guidance of a dentist can cause more damage than good.
Dentists use hydrogen peroxide to reduce tooth staining and improve whiteness, but it causes tooth sensitivity, and if you already suffer from sensitive teeth, then you could be experiencing complications and further problems that cause you pain.
Other recommendations might be using Vitamin C or even brushing your teeth more frequently. But as experienced dentists, we know that brushing your teeth too hard can actually expose the dentin layer, making your teeth appear more yellow.
Patients with high expectations for whitening toothpaste or over-the-counter tray-based tooth whiteners might also feel disappointed when they don’t achieve the results you expect. Tray-based whiteners can lighten teeth maybe one or two shades, and the same claims can be seen for whitening toothpaste, which means it will only really be effective if your teeth are a good shade of white already. Plus, they don’t address the reason your teeth are yellow in the first place.
Before & After Gallery
Professional teeth whitening options
Professional teeth whitening treatments provided by cosmetic dentists fall into two categories:
- In-chair whitening – more immediate results
- At-home whitening trays – gradual results
In-chair whitening is carried out at our dental practice and is more pricey, but it is completed in an hour or so and can lift teeth to 5-7 shades.
Under the experienced hands of a dentist, patients can minimise side effects like tooth sensitivity and pain. View the process.
At-home whitening is more cost-effective but will be slower. Patients typically wear the custom-made trays for up to a few hours each day for weeks.
At-home trays provided by dentists are more effective because they’re custom-made for your teeth for optimal results.
Why are my teeth yellow when I brush them every day?
It is all about the type of tooth staining.Extrinsic yellow stains occur from tea and coffee etc, and appear on the outside of the tooth. Brushing your teeth will help remove the discolouration.
On the other hand, the intrinsic type of yellow staining results from the tooth enamel eroding, making the dentin layer underneath the tooth more visible. This is what gives teeth the appearance of being yellow.
Unfortunately, brushing cannot remove the insides of the tooth.