Want to have movie-star quality teeth? Worried that certain foods or products might be discoloring your precious pearly whites?
Well, you’re in luck! This helpful guide has everything you need to know about why your teeth might be yellow despite regular brushing.
From carbonated beverages to fluorosis, there are numerous causes for discoloration.
The problem is that brushing alone cannot remove large plaque buildup, attack deep stains, or prevent enamel erosion. But don’t worry! There are multiple alternatives and methods to prevent or recover from everything that could be causing yellow stains.
So, if you want to maintain a healthy smile but are simply sick of yellow stains on your precious chompers: read on! This helpful article will provide all the information you need to know on what to do to whiten your teeth. Specifically, this guide will cover:
- Why brushing alone isn't enough to prevent yellowing
- How to whiten yellow teeth
- Tips to prevent yellow teeth
- A great option: Boka’s non-toxic n-Ha toothpaste.
So, what are we waiting for? Let’s jump right in!
Why Brushing Alone Isn't Enough To Prevent Yellowing
Tooth discoloration has a variety of causes that cannot be simply treated by brushing. Below, I’ve listed all the reasons why brushing may not be working!
Inadequate for removing surface stains
Brushing cannot remove stains caused by certain foods and beverages such as coffee, tea, and red wine – not to mention nicotine products like cigarettes or chewing tobacco.
Prolonged exposure to any or all of the above is not great for your teeth and could require targeted intervention if not treated carefully.
Regular brushing is fine if done properly, but stains caused by consistent use or consumption of the above products will require alternate solutions like choosing the right toothpaste, teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, dental bonds, and crowns.
Doesn't address plaque buildup
If left alone, plaque will cause surface and (eventually) deeper discoloration.
Inadequate brushing techniques or weak toothpaste options will struggle to tackle plaque, leading to more yellowing.
Brushing too quickly or for too short a time may also not effectively remove all of the plaque and bacteria from the teeth.
Limited impact on deep stains
If exposure to tobacco or certain medications is prolonged, deeper stains that require professional treatment will appear.
Simple techniques such as brushing just won't be able to penetrate the enamel deep enough to remove them, so you will need to consider other reactive measures as treatment instead such as high-concentration peroxide gels or top-of-the-line whitening agents.
Doesn't prevent enamel erosion
Enamel erosion caused by regular consumption of carbonated drinks or acidic food will result in discoloration and can be difficult to prevent simply through brushing.
Not to mention – brushing too hard or using a brush with tough bristles could even wear away the enamel on your teeth, exposing the yellowish dentin underneath!
With time, the yellowish bony tissue (dentin) will also be revealed as your enamel starts to thin and become transparent.
At a certain point, even brushing and flossing daily won’t prevent plaque and tartar buildup from destroying your enamel.
Neglects gum health
Haven't looked after your gums in a long time? Unfortunately, suddenly brushing will do little to make your teeth white again.
If left untreated, receding gums will expose the roots on your teeth. These roots have a yellowish color because of the softer dentin tissue they’re made up of. This is extremely hard to fix and impossible through mere brushing.
How to Whiten Yellow Teeth?
Importance of choosing the right toothpaste
Selecting the right toothpaste is the fundamental basis for preventing and treating yellow teeth! Thankfully, there are many specialty toothpastes on the market.
Firstly, it may be time to ditch the store-bought fluoride brands.
Although readily available and great for general cleaning, fluoride has been proven to be a potentially harmful neurotoxin. Excessive use can actually create bone problems and tooth discoloration.
Brushing your teeth with specialty toothpaste is therefore the simplest method.
For example, Boka’s whitening toothpaste shelves your typical hydroxyapatite-based whitening toothpaste in favor of gentle ingredients that brighten and whiten your teeth! We also offer other fluoride-free toothpaste options for you.
Maintain good oral hygiene
Good overall oral hygiene is important too, so make sure you pick up complementary products that prevent yellowing such as floss or gels.
You could even grab some of Boka’s hydroxyapatite mouthwash tablets to reach areas brushing simply can’t!
Activated by your saliva, these tablets pack a powerful punch of probiotics to restore your oral microbiome (that’s science-speak for killing the bad bacteria and preserving the good).
Plus, they also freshen breath, soothe irritated gums, remove stuck plaque, and help to remineralize teeth — all without the burn.
Consulting with a dentist
Do you need specific treatment?
Only available through your dentist, professional solutions will often use high-concentration peroxide gels or top-of-the-line whitening agents to attack discoloration.
Prescription-strength whitening products or procedures are perfect for severe and deep stains.
The teeth whitening options are; whitening toothpastes, over-the-counter (OTC) whitening strips and gels, whitening rinses, tray-based teeth whiteners, and in-office whitening.
One method often used is in-office laser whitening. This involves a specialized laser activating a high-concentration of peroxide gel that has been gently applied to your teeth. Although expensive, it will produce instant and noticeable results.
Containing hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, whitening gels are also excellent.
Applied directly to your teeth, this can be done using a store-bought kit with multiple syringes and trays or custom-made by your dentist to fit your specific needs and tooth shape.
Home remedies
If you’re in a pinch, there are a few home remedies that can do the trick too.
For example, when mixed with water to form a paste, baking soda will do all the basics of a stock standard toothpaste from whitening teeth to neutralizing acids.
You could even make a simple hydrogen peroxide rinse by diluting store-bought hydrogen peroxide with water and then gargling the result for 30 seconds to a minute. This will help remove surface-level stains!
Try alternative products
Although backed up by limited research, there are a few alternate oral hygiene products that have been purported to remove stains.
For example, coconut oil will fight bad breath and improve overall oral health by removing toxins and bacteria staining your teeth.
Additionally, charcoal is used in a variety of healthcare products because it is thought to absorb toxins and stains. However, there is little to no evidence to back up these claims.
Tips To Prevent Yellow Teeth
Feeling overwhelmed? Scared that you might one day have yellow teeth?
Not to worry! You can still hold onto your pearly whites by knowing what exactly causes discoloration in the first place and by implementing some simple steps into your daily routine:
- Limit dark-colored beverages (coffee, tea, red wine). These beverages have all been linked to tooth discoloration due to their high levels of chromogens (colored dye compounds).
- Quit smoking or using tobacco products. Smoking or chewing tobacco is known to cause tooth discoloration due to tar and nicotine coating your enamel with a yellowish stain.
- Use a straw for beverages that can stain teeth. Minimizing contact between a beverage like soda or wine and your teeth can be easily achieved with the help of a straw.
- Brush teeth after eating or drinking staining substances. Get rid of harmful bacteria by brushing your teeth or rinsing with water or mouthwash right after consumption.
- Consume dairy products and foods high in fiber and be cautious with acidic foods and drinks. Dairy products have been proven to maintain and strengthen tooth enamel while acidic items cause erosion.
- Seek professional help by visiting the dentist regularly for cleanings. Even just one professional cleaning a year is a fantastic way to prevent stains and this will often be covered by your workplace or insurance.
- Consider professional stain-preventing measures such as dental sealants for added protection. If applied to the chewing surfaces of molars, dental sealants can do wonders in avoiding stains.
Try Boka's Oral Care Products For Whitening Teeth
It should now be clear that there are many fantastic steps and measures to prevent your teeth from yellowing and to bring them back to their natural white glow.
In fact, Boka’s non-toxic whitening n-Ha toothpaste is a great and affordable option for doing just that!
It has all the amazing benefits of your typical hydroxyapatite toothpaste, with some added advantages that range from its non-toxic ingredients to its dentist-approved formula.
Hydroxyapatite contains a calcium-phosphorus compound that comprises 97% of your tooth enamel and 70% of your dentin, meaning that it can biomimic your natural tooth composition unlike any other toothpaste on the market.
You can also choose between Ela Mint, Coco Ginger, Lemon Lavender, and Orange Cream – much better than those artificial flavors you get from supermarket brands!
Boka has a variety of great deals as well, such as back-to-school and travel pack specials. We even have a variety of floss and mouthwash products, so it’s basically a one-stop tooth-cleaning shop!
So, what are you waiting for? n-Ha toothpaste is the obvious choice for whitening your teeth so why not start with Boka?
We’re passionate about oral hygiene and have a variety of proven ingredients and feel-good formulas that beat any found in your typical fluoride-based product.
You can easily pick up the next step to a healthy smile right HERE.
Related Reads:
- Why Avoid Fluoride in Toothpaste? (5 Reasons & Alternatives)
- Does Fluoride Whiten Teeth? (+Tips to Whiten Your Teeth)
- How Long Should You Brush Your Teeth? (+Expert Tips)