Why Are My Teeth Yellow? Top 6 Causes of Discolored Teeth

Are you unhappy with how yellow your teeth have become over the years? Do you wonder what leads to the discoloration of your pearly whites? Where did they go?

It might surprise you to find out that several things can result in your teeth’s discoloration. The habits that you have in your life could be gradually changing your teeth from white to yellow.

If you’ve ever wondered “why are my teeth yellow?”, then it’s time to take a look at the cold-hard facts. See below for several common causes of yellow teeth and what you can do to get them in a better condition.

1. What You Drink

Spoiler alert: anything that you put into your mouth can lead to the discoloration of your teeth, depending on what it’s made of. So it should be no surprise that drinks are one of the main reasons your teeth become yellow over time.

However, it might surprise you which drinks are causing the discoloration. Many people know that coffee can turn your teeth yellow, but so can red wine, soda, tea, and sports drinks.

Even having a daily glass of orange juice can lead to discoloration due to the high amount of sugar inside them.

So… how can you combat this? Start trying to replace a bulk of your drinks with water, and limit the amount of coffee you drink in a day. If you need dramatic changes to your teeth’s condition, you might consider porcelain veneers to do so!

2. Smoking

Not only is smoking a bad habit that leads to the discoloration of your teeth, but it can also lead to further problems as well. As a matter of fact, your yellow teeth are a best-case scenario.

Smoking tobacco can lead to your teeth becoming brown and weak, starting to chip off easily. The more you use it, the darker your teeth will become.

It can lead to further health complications such as lung cancer, mouth cancer, asthma, and so on.

There are many different ways to quit smoking. Once you buck the trend of this unhealthy habit, you can start looking at more ways to whiten teeth and the benefits of veneers. Until you quit smoking, however, attempting to whiten your teeth will be moot.

3. Bad Brushing Habits

Possibly the biggest impact on your teeth’s discoloration is how you brush your teeth.

Maybe you only brush your teeth once a day. Perhaps you brush them after every single meal. You might be surprised to learn that both of these cleaning routines have the same effect.

Depending on the food and drink that you intake during a meal, there will be a high amount of acidity and sugars in your mouth. Brushing your teeth directly after will only do more harm, as it will scrub the acidity onto your teeth.

If you’re going to brush after each meal, then wait 30 to 45 minutes to do so. Let your saliva flush out the sugar and acidity before you continue.

4. Aging

Unfortunately, no one lives this life without experiencing aging. As you age, your teeth are going to become more discolored.

It’s an aging trend similar to wrinkles in your skin, the posture of your spine, your eyesight, and so on.

This is because the outer layer of your tooth becomes worn out and starts to fade away, which leaves behind the dentin’s natural color.

If you’ve noticed that your teeth have become more yellow over time, then you should find some comfort in the fact that it’s just a natural part of life.

However, that doesn’t mean you have to suffer through it. You can find many different ways on how to whiten your teeth and buck the trend.

5. Prescriptions or Medications

Believe it or not, some of the medication that you’ve taken can lead to your teeth becoming more discolored at a faster rate. You might notice that, since you’ve started taking a prescribed pill, your teeth have gotten more yellow.

If so, then be sure to consult with your doctor and ask whether this is a natural side effect of the drug. If so, they might have other medication options that you can take to prevent further discoloration.

The pills that you take for high blood pressure and antipsychotic medications can have bad ramifications on your teeth.

6. Family Genetics

Some people have better luck than others when it comes to the color of their teeth. If you have the right genetics, you will have whiter teeth without putting in as much work as other people do.

Others have a gene that quickens the yellowing of their teeth. It’s important to know which category you fall in so that you can adjust your oral hygiene care accordingly.

Whether that means more frequent trips to the dentist, whitening strips, veneers, or brushing more often, you’ll be able to start whitening your teeth in no time.

Ask your dentist if there are any recommendations they have for your specific situation. Be sure to ask about more details on the suggestions they give you.

Why Are My Teeth Yellow? Use These Common Causes to Decide

Now that you’ve seen common causes that are the most likely answer to your question of “why are my teeth yellow?”, use them to your advantage.

Take the time to consider which ones might apply to you most. Are there certain drinks or foods you should stop consuming? Do you need to quit smoking? Should you ramp up your teeth-cleaning routine?

Be sure to browse our website for more articles on how to whiten your teeth, as well as many other helpful topics.