Do you find yourself spending hours in the mirror trying to figure out the causes of yellow teeth? Maybe you've even tried dozens of homemade remedies without any luck. 

Believe it or not, the cause of your yellowing teeth may not be you. There are dozens of external factors that cause teeth discoloration. Factors that are completely outside of your control. 

Even though your yellow teeth are nothing to be ashamed of, you can totally whiten them with the correct whitening method. 

If you want to know the causes of tooth discoloration and how to whiten yellow teeth, keep reading to learn more. 

Causes Of Yellow Teeth 

Knowing the causes of tooth discoloration is the first step in the whitening process. Sometimes, the cause is something as simple as your drink preference. When this is the case, you will realize that simply avoiding that drink will help your teeth. 

Other times, the cause is a bit more complex like the medication you are taking. You may not be able to get off of your meds, but knowing the cause will still help you find a solution. 

Acidic Drinks

If you drink coffee, soda, tea, wine, or juice your teeth are probably showing it. The high amounts of acid in these beverages will begin discoloring your teeth over time.

The best way to avoid this is the try cutting back on drinks high in acid. This doesn't mean you can never drink them again, but keep in mind that the less you drink, the better for your teeth. 

Medicine 

Antibiotics and other medications may also be the cause of your yellowing teeth. If this is the cause of your problem, the solution may not be as easy as not consuming your pills. 

If the discoloration is really bothering you, you can always talk to your doctor about switching to a new medication without this side effect. If you cannot, the best way to brighten your teeth is to get them whitened professionally. 

You can get this done at a local dentist's office. All you need to do is schedule an appointment. 

Genetics

Similar to medicine, genetics is another cause of teeth yellowing you can necessarily control. If your family just has bad teeth, chances are you do too. 

Professional teeth whitening is one of the best ways to fix this, but avoiding drinks, foods, and any other controllable causes of yellowing teeth is recommended. This will keep them from getting and worse. 

If your teeth are not just yellow and so damaged they are becoming a health hazard, you may want to consider investing in veneers or implants. These are naturally white and stain-resistant. 

Tobacco Use 

One of the most common causes of yellowing teeth is prolonged tobacco use. This is caused by the tar and nicotine inside tobacco. 

As addictive as it may be, the most effective way to keep your teeth white is to stop tobacco use. This is much easier said than done, but your teeth will thank you later. 

Age

As you get older your teeth naturally turn yellow. This is because your enamel thins as time goes on. If you have noted more yellowing as you age this is probably why. 

It is perfectly normal but understandably annoying.

This is prevented by making sure your saliva is being produced properly. When you have enough saliva in your mouth, excess food and plaque are washed away. The more food and plaque sitting on your mouth, the yellower your teeth will appear.

Thin Enamel 

As stated before, when the enamel on your teeth starts to thin your teeth begin to yellow.

Even though this is a perfectly natural process triggered by age, but some people are born with thin enamel. If you were born with this issue, your teeth have more than likely begun to yellow prematurely. 

This yellow appearance is caused by the layer of dentin underneath your enamel. Dentin is a natural light brown color so when it shines from underneath your enamel, it appears yellow. 

Along with proper saliva production, making sure your teeth get enough fluoride will help minimize the yellow appearance. 

Poor Hygiene

If you are not brushing your teeth at least two times a day and practicing other forms of oral hygiene, this is why your teeth are yellow. When you do not brush your teeth, plaque quickly builds on the surface of your teeth.

The plaque has a yellow appearance and is known for staining your teeth. The one and the only way to prevent this is to brush your teeth 2-3 times a day. Scheduling a cleaning with your dentist will also help remove the plaque that collected on your tooth. 

Staining Foods 

Similar to drinks, food that contains high amounts of acid will stain your teeth. A common example of acidic food is fruit.

Along with the acid in your foods, the pigments in them may stain your teeth as well. Any dark food is going to stain your teeth. I eat foods with darker pigments or high amounts of acid, try cutting back and see what it does for your teeth. 

Grinding 

If you are known for anxiously grinding your teeth throughout the day, it is no surprise your teeth are slowly turning yellow. This is because grinding your teeth will break down the enamel and expose the dentin underneath. 

Grinding is a hard habit to stop, but it can get done. One of the easiest ways to cut back on grinding is to wear a nightguard while you sleep. This will give your teeth a few hours of rest and protect the enamel.

If you ever catch yourself grinding your teeth, stop and find a new way to get out your nerves. 

Childhood Injuries 

Believe it or not, constant and serious injuries in your childhood could be the cause of your yellowing. If you hurt your mouth or teeth falling or fighting as a kid, you may have damaged your enamel while your adult teeth were forming. If this sounds like you, then add this to the list of reasons why your teeth are discolored. 

Lucky for you, purchasing a good fluoride toothpaste is an easy solution for you. Fluoride can help strengthen the enamel in your teeth and keep them white. 

Whiten Your Teeth

Now that you no longer have to ask yourself the age-old question, "Why are my teeth yellow", and know the benefits of teeth whitening. All you need to do is take the steps to whiten them.

If you need any professional dental help during this process, give All Smiles Dental Spa a call. Our team of dentists is specially trained in tooth whitening along with many other procedures and is more than happy to give you the smile of your dreams. 

Visit our website to learn more about our services, more causes of yellow teeth, or book an appointment today. We look forward to hearing from you!