tooth health

Remedies for Yellow Teeth

Yellow teeth are not a symptom, nor a disease; they are considered an imperfection.

This is one of the most important and widespread aesthetic problems. Since the smile is considered a "business card", having yellow teeth can compromise the first impression towards strangers.

The causes can be of various kinds, sometimes very different from each other. On the other hand, the treatment is usually identical.

What to do

To improve the color of yellowed teeth it is essential to understand the reason for this color deterioration.

  • In most cases, the teeth turn yellow due to pigments in food and drink. These are coloring molecules that can affect the surface enamel (see below). To avoid yellowing of the teeth it is sufficient:
    • Don't combine them together.
    • Limit your intake.
    • Brush your teeth after meals.
  • Another determining factor is nicotine: this molecule contained in tobacco can sneak into the superficial layers of the enamel, making it become more yellow. The most common nicotine intake methods are:
    • Cigarette, pipe and cigar smoke.
    • Nicotine chewing gum.
    • Chewing tobacco (no longer used).
  • Oral hygiene is also very important: poor cleaning of the teeth promotes the onset of plaque and tartar. It is a variable also influenced by the oro-pharyngeal physiological bacterial flora and the saliva pH. It is advisable to wash your teeth after every meal, leaving about 30 minutes to prevent the association between acids and mechanical friction from affecting the enamel.
  • Aging significantly affects the color of the enamel. There are no effective remedies for this variable.
  • Subjectivity also plays a fundamental role: in fact, the natural color of the teeth is regulated above all by the thickness of the enamel and the pigment of the underlying dentin. Also for this variable there are no effective remedies.
  • Some drugs are responsible for so-called transient dental dyschromia.
    • A striking example is chlorhexidine, an antiseptic used also in certain mouth rinses for the oral cavity.
    • The same applies to liquid solutions of iron salts. To avoid the yellowing effect it is sufficient to use a straw.
    • Some antibiotics are also involved, in particular the amoxicillin / clavulanic acid combination and linezolid.
  • Other drugs are responsible for permanent dyschromatic forms. They interfere with odontogenesis causing changes in the color and transparency of dentin. They should be avoided. The main ones are:
    • Overdoses of fluoride in children: they can give rise to demineralization of the tooth and appearance of white spots.
    • Tetracyclines: when administered during tooth development they can give rise to brown, yellow or permanent gray spots.
    • Ciprofloxacin: is a fluoroquinolone that can give rise to greenish spots.
  • Use the whitening pen for teeth: it is a remedy that can be used independently and at home.

What NOT to do

  • Eat foods that can yellow teeth frequently and in considerable quantities.
  • Combine often the foods that can yellow teeth.
  • Do not brush your teeth after meals.
  • To smoke.
  • Chew nicotine chewing gum.
  • Chew tobacco.
  • Neglecting oral hygiene.
  • Take medications that can cause dental discoloration.
  • Ignore the remedies that can help teeth whitening.

What to eat

There are some foods that, due to their chemical content, are able to prevent yellow teeth:

  • Fruits rich in malic acid: this molecule is able to counteract ocher-colored enamel stains. The following fruits are rich in malic acid: strawberries and apples.
  • Acid fruits: the acidity creates a light superficial erosion of the enamel and favors the removal of the stains. For example, lemon juice is very effective in counteracting the yellow spots of cigarette smoke. However, it should not be used daily due to its strong acidity.
  • Foods that stimulate salivation: saliva has an antibacterial effect and hinders bacterial action, the formation of tartar and plaque. Eating foods that promote salivation or that hinder bacterial proliferation is a good way to reduce tooth yellowing. Some are: raisins, granny smith apples, celery, carrots.

What NOT to Eat

    • Roots: for example licorice, turmeric, red turnip etc.
    • Flowers and parts of the same: for example saffron.
    • Pigmented seeds and foods produced with them: for example cocoa beans, cocoa powder, black chocolate, hot chocolate, etc.
    • Beverages (sometimes freeze-dried) or foods derived from the infusion of roasted and ground seeds: for example coffee, barley coffee, etc.
    • Beverages made from infusion leaves: for example tea, chicory coffee, etc.
    • Beverages obtained from the pressing of fruits and possible fermentation; sometimes they are aged in wooden barrels that can release other dyes: for example must, sugali, wine, barricaded wine, liqueur wine, etc.
    • Residues / results of cooking / combustion: due to the Maillard reaction, certain nutrients can turn brown to become real dyes: for example caramelized caramel sugars, etc.
    • Packaged drinks containing dyes: for example cola.
    • Plant extracts: for example the walnut husk.
    • Dried and oxidized fruits: for example dried prunes rich in melanoidins.
    • Animal pigments: for example cuttlefish ink, composed of melanin.
    • Combination of several factors: for example balsamic vinegar, liqueurs and herbal bitters etc.

Natural Cures and Remedies

There are various types of natural remedies; the most effective are:

  • Sodium bicarbonate: is a remedy to be used in moderation. Excessive use can damage tooth enamel and favor the formation of stains, caries, recession and inflammation of the gums, dental hypersensitivity and sometimes pulpitis. It is often used in the composition of toothpastes.
  • Herbs: the most useful is undoubtedly the sage. Rubbing a fresh sage leaf on the teeth counteracts the yellowing of the teeth. It is often used in the composition of toothpastes.
  • Lemon juice: for the same reason we mentioned in the "what to eat" paragraph, it can be useful if used in gargling.
  • Lemon or orange peel: to be rubbed directly on the teeth.
  • Hydrogen peroxide or hydrogen peroxide: in 3% solution it can be used occasionally. It can be a do-it-yourself toothpaste by mixing two teaspoons of bicarbonate.
  • Walnut ash: little used, it is rich in potassium hydroxide; its application involves rubbing on the teeth.

Pharmacological care

There are no drugs that can whiten teeth, although some medical treatments (see below) use paste and gel with a pharmacological composition to smooth teeth and bleach them.

Prevention

  • Moderate consumption of food and beverages involved in tooth yellowing.
  • If you want to eat them anyway, it is advisable to brush your teeth after taking them. It is advisable to wait about 30 minutes from the end of the meal, to avoid that the association between rubbing and food acids can compromise the integrity of the enamel.
  • Eliminate smoking.
  • In general, good oral hygiene is recommended. If the saliva is very acidic and the bacterial flora is quite active, rinsing with mouthwash even between meals (prefer those without alcohol) or chewing xylitol gum can be useful.
  • To carry out a professional cleaning (one or two times a year) from the trusted dentist.

Medical Treatments

  • Professional bleaching with 35-38% hydrogen peroxide or sodium bicarbonate.
  • Professional teeth whitening with laser.
  • Application of customized soft silicone masks containing carbamide peroxide (another bleaching agent).