Yellowish and Discolored Teeth.. Solutions?

Oral hygiene

Not brushing your teeth properly will cause germs to accumulate over time, whereby yellow plaque builds up and turns into hard tartar or calculus. If proper oral hygiene is not adopted, teeth cavities and  decays can follow with oral diseases leading to discolored teeth. 

Color-staining foods and drinks

Tea, coffee, red wine, chocolates, general bright and dark-colored foods can stain teeth.  Consuming colors-staining foods over time without proper oral cleaning can cause external tooth surface to become yellow, gray and patchy.

Smoking

Nicotine and tar definitely yellow your teeth. They are substances that causes stubborn stains in teeth.

Aging

As we age, our teeth’s external enamel layers wears out. Our teeth’s interior dentin layer that naturally yellow becomes more visible.  Combined with years of extrinsic stains exposure and wear, teeth discolor to look more yellowish or grey. 

Medications

Babies still in utero and children whose teeth are still developing exposed to antibiotic tetracycline and doxycycline may intrinsic tetracycline staining in teeth. Other specific medications such as antihistamines (like Benadryl), antipsychotic drugs, and drugs for high blood pressure can also contribute to tooth discoloration. Strong mouth rinses containing chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride can also stain teeth. (1)

Dental Trauma 

Blood vessels inside the tooth may rupture from injury. This can cause tooth to appear black, gray, brown, and yellow. If a tooth’s root is no longer alive (from root canal treatment or heavy impact), the tooth can also discolor.

Medical Disease

Illness and chemotherapy and/or radiation theraphy is a less common but possible cause of discolored teeth. Some health conditions that may cause teeth discoloration can include liver disease, celiac disease, calcium deficiency, eating disorders and metabolic diseases.

Excessive Fluoride

An overexpose to fluoride from over-consuming fluoridated drinking water, supplements or toothpaste in children can lead to fluorosis. Fluorosis may be lacy white markings, yellow to dark brown stains or surface irregularities.

Dental Materials

Silver amalgam filling restorations or metal-alloy crowns can produce a grayish-black cast to teeth when left in mouth over-time without changing. Today, most amalgam fillings has been replaced or are treated using tooth-colored composites. Similarly, all ceramic crowns are not the preferred dental crown material.

Genetics

Some people have naturally yellow or thicker enamel. It also might be possible that you inherited teeth that stain more easily.