Yellow Teeth
Teeth stains and yellowing can have a variety of causes. Luckily, there’s no shortage of teeth whitening treatments that can effectively remove stains. Here, we break down how to prevent stained, yellow teeth and achieve a brighter smile.
Teeth stains and yellowing can have a variety of causes. Luckily, there’s no shortage of teeth whitening treatments that can effectively remove stains. Here, we break down how to prevent stained, yellow teeth and achieve a brighter smile.
In-office treatments
Other whitening options
First, it’s important to know the difference between the two types of teeth stains: intrinsic and extrinsic stains. Intrinsic stains occur inside the tooth, underneath the enamel and within the inner tissue called dentin. They usually make teeth look gray. Extrinsic stains, which can make the color of your teeth look yellow or even brown, develop on the surface of the enamel.
Both kinds of teeth stains are caused by a variety of factors, but these are the most common causes of yellow teeth.
- Skimping on good oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly is vital in preventing stains from settling into teeth. Skipping out on these rituals leads to plaque buildup and tartar, which can turn into stubborn surface stains and tooth decay. Regular dental cleanings, every six months, can also help keep teeth from looking discolored.
- Consuming dark foods and drinks. Coffee, tea, red wine, dark sauces, and balsamic vinegar can all darken and dull tooth color, especially if you consume them every day. Even the pigments in blueberries or other deeply colored fruits and vegetables can cause discoloration over time.
- Smoking. Both chewing tobacco and smoking can stain teeth.
- Aging. Tooth enamel naturally thins with age, making yellowing dentin more apparent. (Dentin can be grey or even black, but it's usually a pale yellow color.)
- Genetics. Hereditary factors mean that some people have naturally thicker enamel and whiter teeth, while others are more prone to yellowing. This also means that some people respond better to whitening treatments than others.
- Trauma. Physical trauma to the tooth can cause a decrease in blood flow and potentially cause the nerve to die. This can lead to internal tooth discoloration (and may require a root canal).
- Medications. Intrinsic gray stains can also be a side effect of certain medications, like the oral antibiotic tetracycline. Some antipsychotic drugs, blood pressure medicines, and antihistamines can also lead to discoloration. If you notice your teeth graying, talk with your doctor about this potential cause.
Related: 8 Ways to Take Care of Your Teeth When You Can’t See a Dentist
Most treatments that turn brown or yellow teeth into pearly whites contain hydrogen peroxide, which can remove stains and tooth discoloration caused by smoking, coffee, hygiene issues, and aging.
Both over-the-counter (OTC) and professional teeth whitening treatments lighten your teeth a few shades. The primary difference is the amount of hydrogen peroxide in the formula, which determines its potency and how quickly it will work.
Hydrogen peroxide breaks down molecules of pigment on the surface of teeth, and penetrates tooth enamel to remove deeper stains. Most OTC treatment options contain less than 10% hydrogen peroxide, while professional treatments contain up to 40%. This level of hydrogen peroxide can burn the gums, which is why you can't try this at home: it has to be done by a cosmetic dentist in their office, where they can protect your gums.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates professional treatment options. These are some to consider.
| Worth It Rating | 75% | Not yet available | 83% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Cost | $350 | Not yet available | $7325 |
| Downtime | No downtime | No downtime | No downtime |
| Anesthesia | No anesthesia | No anesthesia | Local anesthesia |
- Zoom contains 25% hydrogen peroxide, activated by a blue plasma light. First, your provider will cover your gums, to prevent burns. Then they'll carefully apply the whitening gel to the surface of each tooth. The process is repeated three times, every 15 minutes. Patients leave the treatment session with white teeth—up to eight shades whiter. Results last up to six months, if you practice good oral hygiene and avoid food that can cause staining. Find dentists who offer Zoom whitening
- Internal tooth bleaching is an effective treatment option for whitening a tooth that has intrinsic stains, usually after a root canal that has removed the tooth's soft dental pulp. Performed by a general or cosmetic dentist, the process whitens from the inside out; it’s typically done on a tooth that doesn’t have an inner core of dental pulp. Find dentists who offer internal tooth bleaching
- Porcelain veneers are a permanent way to get whiter teeth, if bleaching treatments aren't giving you the results you want. Getting multiple veneers is dramatically more expensive than other treatment options, but a single veneer can be applied to just one discolored tooth. These thin, custom-made shells are affixed to the surface of your existing teeth. Find dentists who offer porcelain veneers
The American Dental Association (ADA) grants a seal of safety and effectiveness to over-the-counter toothpastes; strips; trays; and other cosmetic, at-home whitening options.
If you're willing to start with a visit to your dentist, consider Opalescence PF. Your dentist takes a mold of your teeth in order to create custom trays, which you fill with whitening gel (which contains hydrogen peroxide, fluoride, and potassium nitrate) and wear it every day for two weeks, for anywhere from 15 minutes to overnight (depending on your level of staining).
Over-the-counter tooth whitening systems are also readily available for people who do not want to pay a professional. Options include:
- Whitening kits like Snow, iSmile, AuraGlow, HiSmile, and Caliwhite use an LED mouthpiece to help jump-start the whitening gel, which contains either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide.
- Teeth whitening strips are applied to the front "smile teeth" and worn for about a half hour, every day for two weeks, to treat mild staining.
- BriteSmile To Go at-home whitening pens produce results similar to those of whitening strips or bleaching trays.
There are also whitening toothpastes as well as floss and mouthwash, but results can be lackluster, even compared to what you'd see from strips and pens.
Updated July 6, 2021