Yellow or Stained Teeth: Causes and Options

Where yellow teeth get their colour

Yellow teeth are very common, and they aren't always a sign of a problem. Tooth colour comes from two layers. Enamel, the outer shell, is slightly see-through. Dentin, underneath, is naturally yellow. What you see is a blend of the two, plus anything stuck to the surface.

Dentists sort tooth discoloration into two broad groups: stains on the outside, and colour changes from within. Knowing which one you have makes all the difference to what will help.

Surface stains

Surface stains sit on or in the outer enamel. The American Dental Association points to these common causes:

• Coffee, tea and red wine, which contain pigments that cling to enamel
• Tobacco: tar is dark, and nicotine turns yellowish once it mixes with oxygen
• Tartar, the hardened plaque that can look yellow or tan along the gumline
• Frequent sipping of dark drinks throughout the day

Colour changes from inside the tooth

Some colour comes from within, where toothpaste and cleanings can't reach. With age, enamel thins and more of the yellow dentin shows through. A tooth that was injured may darken because it lays down extra dentin, or because the nerve inside has died. A single grey or dark tooth after a knock should always be examined.

Medicines can play a part too. Tetracycline or doxycycline taken while teeth are forming can cause lasting discolouration. The ADA also lists some antihistamines, antipsychotics and blood pressure drugs, as well as chemotherapy and head and neck radiation.

White spots on teeth

Not every colour change is yellow. Chalky white spots on teeth near the gumline can be an early sign of decay, where minerals have been lost from the enamel. The Public Health Agency of Canada advises parents to have white, chalky or brown spots near a child's gums checked right away.

Faint white streaks or flecks across the teeth may be dental fluorosis, from too much fluoride while the teeth were forming in early childhood. The Canadian Dental Association describes it as a cosmetic condition of the enamel. Other spots come from how the enamel developed. Each cause is handled differently, so a proper look comes first.

What you can do at home

Habits can't change the colour inside a tooth, but they can slow new staining:

• Brush morning and night with a fluoride toothpaste, and floss once a day.
• Rinse with water after coffee, tea or red wine.
• Have dark drinks with a meal rather than sipping them all day.
• Cut back on or quit tobacco.
• Use whitening toothpaste for surface stains only, since it doesn't change the tooth's own colour.
• Keep up regular cleanings so tartar doesn't build up.

Treatment options for discoloured teeth

A professional cleaning and polish removes much of the surface staining and all of the tartar. For colour that goes deeper, peroxide bleaching can lighten natural teeth. It can be done in the office, or at home with custom trays made by your dentist. The ADA notes that yellow teeth usually respond well, brown teeth less so, and grey tones may not respond at all.

Whitening doesn't change fillings, crowns or veneers, and it can cause short-term sensitivity or gum irritation. When bleaching won't work, or only one tooth is dark, bonding, veneers or a crown can cover the colour instead. A tooth that darkened after a root canal can sometimes be lightened from the inside, a method called non-vital bleaching.

Why see a dentist before whitening

The Canadian Dental Association advises finding the cause of discolouration before any bleaching. A dark tooth may have a nerve problem that needs treatment first. Yellowing from thinning enamel may come with sensitive teeth that need protecting. Store-bought kits aren't monitored, and the NHS warns that whitening from salons or online kits may harm teeth and gums.

Next steps in Aurora

If you live in or near Aurora and the colour of your teeth bothers you, start with a checkup and cleaning. Our dentists can tell you which kind of discolouration you have, and whether in-office whitening, a take-home kit or another option makes sense for you.

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