Thanks to poor brushing techniques and little information, poor dental hygiene has become a reality in 60% of the population from adults to adolescents. Thanks to this, we can see a large number of people going to the dental office wondering why their teeth are yellow.
And the answer is easy: Tartar accumulation.
Tartar is a small cloth covering the tooth that is caused by the accumulation of bacteria from the things we eat or drink. When not removed properly, these bacteria can clump together and make a coating thick enough that it is noticeable on the tooth and can change its color.
And it should be noted that this problem is not only aesthetic, because if we let tartar accumulate constantly we can suffer the consequences of a breeding ground of bacteria between our teeth, which will cause cavities, periodontal disease, and other diseases that will directly attack our gums.
When we are going through a serious illness or one that could be considered major, we will be sent for treatments that are a bit strong. Antibiotics or tetracycline are fully capable of altering the color of our teeth, although this may be temporary, there are people who do not get rid of it.
Also mouthwashes that are used in excess can tend to stain the teeth a more yellowish color than normal, so be careful not to use anything in excess because in the long run it could do the same evil that we are trying to escape.
When performing a root canal there may also be a darkening of the tooth as we cut a nerve and therefore the blood begins to coagulate from the inside, showing through the tooth enamel.
Deep dental cleanings are part of our cleaning routine only twice a year depending on your case. If you haven’t had one, you probably need one. Although you may think it can be done at home, the reality is that it can’t be done at home.
This deep cleaning allows you to remove all the tartar that we cannot remove daily, as well as stains and enamel imperfections, thus leaving your teeth a little whiter. It should be noted that its use should not be abused as it is quite abrasive and will leave the teeth sensitive for a few days, in which you should eat a little lighter and keep the toothbrushing a little softer to avoid damaging the teeth and tooth enamel.
This is totally false, in fact, very few people are born or grow up with totally white and perfect teeth. It is normal to have slightly yellowish or pearl-colored teeth, having white teeth could be considered unnatural.
If you want to know if your teeth are really healthy by their color, they should be between gray and very light yellow. If you want to know exactly why they are this color, we can check the tooth structure:
Tooth enamel:
If we look at our tooth in a mirror, we will notice that it is perhaps a little shiny and appears to be previously varnished. This varnish is called enamel and it develops as soon as the tooth grows. It should be noted that it does not regenerate again, therefore it is important not to break it.
And finally we come to what covers these various layers of the tooth, where everything happens; the dental pulp. In this small structure are immersed the nerve endings, blood vessels, and other types of small circuits that make the tooth function.
Between all these layers there are different colors that will end up being reflected in the enamel, which is usually a light translucent blue. The dentin is dark, yellowish. And between these two there may be a combination that determines the color of the tooth, which will never be totally white.
We can see in several toothpaste advertisements how they demonize yellow teeth, but the reality is that these are only looking to keep your money, promising you a “White Smile ” that is impossible to have.
Removing tartar and plaque deposits is very important for the overall health of the teeth, but a yellow tooth can live perfectly well and be healthy without having to suffer. Because, as we explained, teeth are naturally yellow.
Although we recommend deep dental cleanings to remove tartar buildup and to show cleaner teeth, if we abuse them up to 4 times a year we can totally damage our teeth, as we weaken the outer enamel layer that we need to protect our teeth and cause REAL stains to come for them, and it should be noted that these stains do NOT come off.
This is totally false and is one of the reasons why many people refuse to get braces even today.
It turns out that they can turn yellow, but not because of the use of braces, but because of the misuse of braces. If you don’t clean them properly, chances are that there will be a buildup of tartar between the braces, so they will stain the tooth enamel.
That is why it is important to make good use of the irrigator, brush for the time determined by the dentist and use extra appliances that help control dental tartar during the time your braces last.
If this is one of your biggest concerns, you should talk to your dentist before putting on braces so that he or she can guide you and explain to you what this new modality will be like, where you will have to take care of your teeth in a totally different way than you are used to.