Why Do Teeth Turn Yellow With Age? | Drew Family Dentistry (2024)

If your teeth look a little more discolored these days, you might wonder if your lifestyle or habits play a role in this change. Maybe you drink coffee or tea on a typical day or have a few glasses of red wine now and then. If you’re a regular smoker or take certain medications, you might face yellowing teeth. Your smile will also naturally stain as you age.

It’s common for older adults’ teeth to need treatment to restore their former shine. Keep reading to learn about your options if you’re interested in restoring your teeth’s natural brilliance.

What Makes Teeth Turn Yellow as You Age?

Perhaps your teeth seem healthy, and you brush regularly like you are supposed to — but they are starting to look discolored. Aging teeth might face the following problems that make them stain more easily:

  • Thin tooth enamel:As you age, your tooth enamelgradually becomes more transparentand reveals the color of the dentin inside your tooth.
  • More highly visible dentin:Dentin pulp is slightly yellowish even when completely healthy. It is a hard, thick surface inside the tooth that can also stain.

What Are Other Causes of Yellow Teeth?

Many other factors can cause your teeth to look yellow. You can control several of these things by making healthy choices and getting regular teeth cleanings. Below is a list of the most commonreasons teeth change in color:

  • Tobacco use:Smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco are common causes of yellow teeth. Tobacco has a strong color and tends to stain whatever it touches.
  • Caffeinated beverages:Caffeine on its own is harmless to your teeth’s coloration. However, the popular drinks you can find it in — like coffee, tea and soda — all lead to yellowing teeth.
  • Wine and fruit juice:Red wine can stain your teeth, and so can grape juice, cherry juice and other fruit juices with vibrant colors.
  • Disease:Certain chronic illnesses can make you more susceptible to yellow teeth, including chronic infections.
  • Medication:Some medications may make your teeth turn yellow over time. These include some antibiotics, antipsychotics, antihypertensive medications, chemotherapy and over-the-counter antihistamines.
  • Trauma:If your teeth were previously damaged, you might notice they turn yellow more easily.

How to Whiten Aging Yellow Teeth

Your dentist provides several treatments you can try if you want to whiten your aging teeth. The best way older teeth can be whitened will depend on your needs and preferences. Common tooth whitening treatments for transforming your smile back to its natural brilliance include:

1. Over-the-Counter Whitening

You can probably find whitening strips and gels at your local supermarket, but use caution when purchasing these products. Aging teeth with thin tooth enamel might respond poorly to this grade of whitening product. Chemical bleaching agents like those found on store shelves might also cause temporarytooth and gum sensitivityafter use.

2. In-Office Tooth Whitening

A whitening procedure is great for patients whose yellow teeth were mostly caused by their diets or lifestyles. For aging patients, a simple bleaching procedure may be less effective than some other methods available. If you have a good amount of thickness in your enamel,this treatment is still a good optionand can offer lasting results.

3. Dental Veneers

Custom porcelain veneerscover the front part of your teeth, hiding discoloration and helping correct other dental issues. This is one of the best solutions for patients who want a newly bright smile in a short period of time.

4. Dental Bonding

This treatment might be suggested for correcting the coloration of a single tooth or a small number of teeth. It hides a chipped or damaged part of the tooth with a specially formulated resin. Bonding works well for patients with oral trauma, but it is designed to work on a small area instead of a whole tooth.

Why Do Teeth Turn Brown With Age?

Sometimes teeth appear more brown as you age. The reason for this shift and the appropriate treatment for it can depend on what type of discoloration you experience.

The three forms of tooth discoloration are:

  • Extrinsic:Stains on the surface of your enamel make the teeth appear darker in color. Certain food and drink habits can cause this type of color problem, which is easily treatable with whitening sessions.
  • Intrinsic:Stains that have reached the dentin beneath your enamel make the teeth look yellow or brown when the enamel erodes. Your dentin can also turn a darker yellow color because of medications or excessive use of fluoride.
  • Age-related:The combination of aging and the above two types of discoloration make your teeth look more yellow or brown as the years pass. Luckily, there are treatments for older adults that can address a yellow smile.

What Is Enamel Decay in Older Adults?

Your enamel is a very hard substance andlacks any living cells. Once you lose enamel, your body is unable to grow a new layer. Over time, you lose enamel from the processes of eating and chewing. Accordingly, older adults are susceptible to having more yellowish or brown teeth than white.

Enamel loss may progress more quickly because of the following factors:

  • Acidic beverages:This is another reason to avoid drinking soda and alcohol, which can cause your enamel to soften.
  • Fruit:Acidic citrus fruits and berries with brightly colored juices are especially hard on your enamel.
  • Dry mouth:Your saliva helps restore your mouth’s pH balance. If you have a dry mouth from medications, you are vulnerable to acid attacks from your food.
  • Acid reflux:This condition can lead to problems with your teeth, especially if it is left untreated.

What Tooth Whitening Treatments Can Older Adults Get?

You can get your teeth whitened at any age. It is very common for older adults to seek treatment for yellowing teeth. Your dentist will help you decide which option is the best for you.

In-office bleaching procedures gently remove stains from your enamel, whereas a treatment like veneers gives you a newly white smile with a customized protective covering for your teeth. These treatments provide solutions you can enjoy regardless of your age.

Schedule Your Next Appointment With Drew Family Dentistry

If you’re ready for a tooth discoloration solution, schedule a dentist appointment today. Drew Family Dentistry is proud to help older adult patients in Tempe, Arizona, achieve their best smiles.Request an appointmentto learn more about our services, or call us at 480-839-0502.

Why Do Teeth Turn Yellow With Age? | Drew Family Dentistry (2024)

FAQs

Why Do Teeth Turn Yellow With Age? | Drew Family Dentistry? ›

Thin tooth enamel: As you age, your tooth enamel gradually becomes more transparent and reveals the color of the dentin

dentin
By volume, 45% of dentin consists of the mineral hydroxyapatite, 33% is organic material, and 22% is water. Yellow in appearance, it greatly affects the color of a tooth due to the translucency of enamel. Dentin, which is less mineralized and less brittle than enamel, is necessary for the support of enamel.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Dentin
inside your tooth. More highly visible dentin: Dentin pulp is slightly yellowish even when completely healthy. It is a hard, thick surface inside the tooth that can also stain.

Why do teeth turn yellow with age? ›

As we get older, the porous outer layer of enamel on our teeth begins to thin. This allows the naturally yellow material beneath it, called dentin, to show through more prominently. The thinner your enamel, the more dentin shows through, giving your teeth a yellow tint.

Why does my family have yellow teeth? ›

Teeth naturally begin to discolor with age, as enamel wears and yellowish dentin underneath begins to show through. Yellow teeth may also be caused by a combination of genes, medication history, past illnesses, and addictions.

Why are teeth genetically yellow? ›

Amelogenesis imperfecta is another inherited condition caused by genetic mutations. The condition causes a yellow-brown tooth discoloration and soft, fragile enamel that is prone to pitting or grooving. This condition increases a person's risk of tooth decay, as well as chipping, cracking and breaking in the teeth.

Why do some adult teeth grow in yellow? ›

In general, adult teeth come in darker and more yellow compared to primary (baby) teeth. Permanent teeth are naturally darker because they have more dentin, which is the yellow layer of teeth below the enamel. With proper care, your child's adult teeth will lighten and not appear as yellow as when they first erupted.

Can teeth yellowed by age be whitened? ›

It's natural for teeth to appear darker as they age, but a bleaching product with hydrogen peroxide or urea peroxide can help turn back the clock – and a whitening toothpaste is an easy way to get a jump-start.

Why teeth become yellow even after brushing? ›

Here are some common factors that can cause yellowing of teeth despite regular brushing: Diet: Consuming foods and beverages that are highly pigmented, such as coffee, tea, red wine, berries, and dark-colored sauces, can lead to staining over time. These stains can accumulate on the enamel, making teeth appear yellow.

What is the number one cause of yellow teeth? ›

Coffee and tea are two of the most common causes of yellow teeth, but red and white wine are also to blame. Other culprits include dark and light sodas and sports drinks with artificial flavoring. Tetracycline antibiotics stain teeth when they're developing in the gums.

Why are my teeth yellow if I've tried everything? ›

Poor Oral Hygiene

Yellowing is one of the most obvious. When plaque and tartar accumulate on the surface of your teeth, they can cause stains that appear yellow. But if you fall into the camp of those who brush regularly but still have yellow teeth, the problem may be harsh brushing or using the wrong toothbrush.

Why are my grandsons teeth yellow? ›

Staining from food and drinks: Many foods and beverages can stain teeth's enamel, including soda, coffee, tea, lemon, tomato sauce and dark-colored berries. Over time, these tooth stains can build up and cause your child's teeth to take on a yellow hue.

Can naturally yellow teeth be whitened? ›

The good news is that even naturally yellow teeth can be whitened, and kept white, if you understand the causes behind tooth discoloration.

What vitamin deficiency causes yellow teeth? ›

In adults, low vitamin D status can lead to gingivitis and periodontal disease. Does vitamin D deficiency cause yellow teeth? Yes, vitamin D deficiency can show up as yellow teeth. Yellow or brown spots on teeth are a symptom of rickets, a condition caused by chronic low levels of vitamin D.

Are yellow teeth healthier? ›

There is a common misconception that yellow teeth are stronger than white teeth. However, this is not true. The strength of your teeth is not related to the color of your teeth. The color of your teeth is determined by the natural color of your dentin, the layer of tissue beneath your tooth enamel.

Can teeth be permanently yellow? ›

Age, injuries, trauma, medications, disease and genetics can all be causes for teeth discolouring and becoming yellow in colour. Yellow teeth caused by genetics, age, illness or injury are permanent and need professional dental attention to address.

Why are my teeth so yellow compared to others? ›

As you grow older, your tooth enamel wears thinner. This exposes more of the underlying dentin, which has a yellowish hue. As a result, your teeth may appear slightly more discolored as you age.

Can yellow teeth ever be white again? ›

Can yellow teeth be bleached? Yellow teeth can be completely whitened with teeth whitening technologies at the dentist or at home. Depending on the status of your yellow teeth as well as your needs, the doctor will advise and prescribe the appropriate method.

How to stop teeth from turning yellow? ›

Can You Fix Yellow Teeth Naturally?
  1. Apply Baking Soda to Your Brushes. ...
  2. Use Hydrogen Peroxide. ...
  3. Use a Teeth Whitener. ...
  4. Brush Your Teeth Regularly. ...
  5. Avoid Foods that Stain Teeth. ...
  6. Avoid Smoking. ...
  7. Increase Your Calcium Intake. ...
  8. Keep a Good Oral Hygiene Routine.

Why did my teeth get yellow so fast? ›

Coffee, tea, colas, wines, and certain fruits and vegetables (for example, apples, and potatoes) can stain your teeth. Tobacco use. Smoking or chewing tobacco can stain teeth. Poor dental hygiene.

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