Why Did My Teeth Turn Yellow All a Sudden?

Have you ever looked in the mirror and felt bad about the color of your teeth because they might be yellower than you’d like? Many of us have gone through the same thing. Because the yellowing of teeth happens gradually, it can be easy to become complacent. Luckily, yellow teeth are not an indication of a serious medical problem. That doesn’t go to say that it’s not disheartening and affects the confidence to realise that you don’t have the brightest or whitest smile, especially in today’s selfie-obsessed world. Read on to find out what causes yellowing of the teeth, and how you can avoid or limit exposure to those things.

Reasons why your teeth turned yellow all of a Sudden

Food

Some foods are a big no-no when it comes to yellow teeth. Curries, berries and even the tomatoes in your pasta sauce can cause this. We get it: it tastes so good. Fortunately, you can add things to counteract the yellowing effect. Do you usually make pasta sauce with tomatoes only? Next time, add some green vegetables to slow the yellowing. Did you eat berries? Then drink some milk to neutralize the acids in the fruits.

Drinking

Of course we have to hydrate, but many of us don’t feel like drinking a lot of water. Some variation is nice, especially in the evening. Coffee, tea, and red and white wine are drinks that some people enjoy every day, but those can also cause discoloration of your teeth. Try to ignore wine, and choose coffee and tea without caffeine.

Smoking

We do not have to tell you that smoking is unhealthy and that the purchase of cigarettes is also an attack on your wallet. And there’s another negative effect: the nicotine in the cigarettes leaves a yellowish or sometimes brown color on your teeth. Our advice? Leave those cigarettes alone.

Ageing
Research indicates that advancing age is a natural factor in the discoloration process of the teeth. Many times genetic factors and family history also contribute to this condition. As a person starts to age, the tooth starts to lay down more dentin, thus reducing the pulp which in turn diminishes the translucent effect of the teeth, giving off a more yellow shade.

Enamel Thinning

As the enamel layer of the teeth starts wearing down and thinning itself due to chewing, the yellow dentin is exposed making the teeth look yellower. Dentin is a deep, yellow to brown, tinged material inside our teeth under the enamel. It is the primary cause for teeth appearing yellow. Color changes occur when the enamel starts scraping off and more of the dentine reveals itself.

Faulty Diet

Sauces, dark curries and black coffee are big culprits which tend to stain the teeth if used excessively and regularly, since they contain chemicals known as tannins, which are famous for their blemishing properties. Their residue tends to stick on the teeth surface, tarnishing the enamel. Soda and fizzy drinks are also big contributors to discoloration of teeth. These items create stains on the teeth s

Nicotine is not only a bad addiction, but the tar from smoking is pretty damaging to oral hygiene- even leading to gum diseases and mouth cancers in cases. Chewing tobacco also falls under this category. Heavy smokers often complain of ending up with ugly brownish/yellowish teeth, a bad odor and crippled teeth.

The most apparent effect of smoking is the discoloration of the teeth, often leading to social embarrassment. People spend lavish amounts later on whitening treatment, but the best treatment is to quit smoking.

Grinding

Many people adopt the habit of grinding teeth as a stress release method. Some do it unconsciously while asleep. This habit, also known as bruxism, is damaging to the tooth enamel thus weakening it and leading to brittle and yellow teeth.

Certain Diseases and Medications

Research indicates that few diseases directly affect the enamel and dentin in the mouth. Cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy and radiation end up with discolored teeth due to the chemical reactions occuring in the body. In addition, particular antibiotic medications like tetracycline and doxycycline can also stain teeth.

Many times people use strong mouth washes which contain ingredients like chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride which are said to erode the teeth enamel causing discoloration. Often dentists use some dental materials like silver sulfide which imprints a gray-black color onto the teeth.