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What Causes Yellow Teeth? 5 Possibilities

Teeth Whitening Before and After Slide Philadelphia PA

The image of long yellow teeth isn’t a pretty one. In fact, you may be downright terrified if you notice that your teeth are starting to darken no matter how much you brush.

What could be turning your teeth yellow? Most people think that food and beverages cause their teeth to turn yellow. This is because food, and especially drinks with dark pigments in them, can sink into tooth enamel and cause yellow discoloration after years of exposure. Professional teeth whitening can help lighten teeth stained this way, but you can keep your teeth bright if you limit:

  • Coffee
  • Black tea
  • Red wine
  • Dark berries and fruit juices

Other possible causes include the following:

  • Tobacco Use

Cigarettes are notorious for causing tooth discoloration. Even if you kept your teeth white and healthy for a while, many years of tobacco use will catch up to you and cause yellow teeth.

  • Age

Tooth enamel wears away after many years of use. The inner yellow-colored dentin layer of your teeth becomes more visible as you age. Teeth tend to get darker and yellower over time as a result.

  • Enamel Erosion

That enamel layer on your teeth both protects your teeth and keeps them looking bright. If your enamel starts to wear away for any reason, it can leave you with vivid patches of yellow dentin showing through. Enamel erosion can be caused by reflux disease, tooth grinding, acidic diets, or aggressive tooth brushing.

  • Gum Recession

Having long yellow teeth may actually be a sign of gum recession. As gums shrink away from your teeth, they leave the darker yellow roots exposed.

To find out what’s causing your yellow teeth and get the best teeth whitening treatment in Philly, call Dentists on the Square.

Posted on behalf of Dentists on the Square

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Dentists on the Square

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Based on 83 reviews

  • Marianne M.

    Dentists on the Square is great. I’ve had a lot of work done, and they are by far the best practice I’ve been to. They are preventative in mindset, which makes a huge difference to minimize issues before they are large scale problems. The team collaborates and they are very attentive. And now I walk out after a cleaning with much whiter teeth! My hygienist is amazing!

  • Betty H.

    This was my best experience at a dentist office. The staff was AWESOME!!!!. I had some major dental work done and still the experience was wonderful. Thanks, Bonnie for the warm welcome.

  • Jackie E.

    DOTS is fantastic! I’ve been a long time patient and have referred many friends. Their staff and doctors are attentive, caring and always willing to sit down and plan out treatment and talk through your benefits. Thank you!

  • Heidi S.

    They actually have me excited to get implants. The staff is amazing and extremely kind. Very thorough and comprehensible, even with such a detailed process. Thank you!! I’m very happy to have been recommended to come here.

  • Candace V.

    I highly recommend! The staff is really friendly and nice. I had my wisdom teeth removed by Dr. Roberts and Vince and they are great. I was really nervous to have that type of treatment but they reassured me that I would be okay and made it a good experience. It is so worth it!

  • Angela B.

    My first appointment at DOTS was pretty incredible. I had a traumatic experience at my last dentist three years ago that resulted in my 1) developing severe anxiety around going to the dentist and 2) me putting off my dental health for a while. Everyone at DOTS was incredible and super supportive. Shoutout to the hygienist and dentists there that get their patients through the appointments with humor and professionalism. I think I might actually look forward to the dentist now!

  • Jake P.

    Incredibly knowledgeable and professional staff. Really pleased with my experience! This is now my go to dentist office.

  • Harry G.

    Everyone is very friendly, the office is very clean and well organized. I will definitely be returning for my dental work.

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