Everyday dental mistakes that are making your teeth yellower
From excessive use of acidic mouthwash and consuming acidic fruits and veggies to lack of proper oral care, a lot of daily habits are the reason why your teeth are yellow, say experts
Abhinav Verma
Of all the things that can ruin a perfect selfie, yellow teeth flashing bright in the picture, is top of the list. Yellow teeth, ladies and gentlemen, can make your life a living hell. They take away your self-confidence as you are always scared of people noticing them. The question, then, is as to what causes the teeth to go yellow.
We got in touch with experts Dr Rahul Vohra, (BDS MDS Prosthodontics) and Dr Archa Bhargava (BDS), who list out a number of dental mistakes that lead to yellow teeth.
ACIDIC MOUTHWASH OR EXCESSIVE USE OF MOUTHWASH
There is no harm in using a mouthwash, unless you’re overdoing it, or using one that is acidic. The latter can dry up your mouth, decreasing the production of saliva in your mouth. Now, saliva is a combination of minerals, enzymes, and oxygen compounds, and highly important for maintaining the right pH level in the mouth. Saliva also protects the enamel (mineral layer protecting the teeth from decay), using an acidic mouthwash or using it excessively can damage the latter.
TOO MUCH OF ACIDIC FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
Yellow teeth in some people can also be a result of lack of proper oral care after consuming citrus fruits and carbonated drinks, which make the enamel thicker and lead to yellow teeth. However, this doesn’t mean that you leave them out of your diet; all you have to do is drink water after eating them, which will help rinse the teeth out.
CONSUMPTION OF TEA AND COFFEE
Yellow teeth among tea and coffee addicts are rarely a surprise. Since both of these are major staining agents, excessive consumption means your enamel is in constant contact with them. Since enamel is porous, the stains go deeper. Clean your teeth regularly to deal with it, or drink through a straw to avoid contact with enamel.
EATING SUGARY FOOD
Those with a sweet tooth, especially those with a weakness for chocolates are at particularly at risk of getting yellow teeth. Sweets tend to increase the acidity in your mouth, which, again, is harmful for the enamel. So, remember to drink water after eating sweets.
BAD ORAL HYGIENE
One doesn’t need to go too far to know the reason behind their yellow teeth. Often, it is plain bad oral hygiene routine. Brushing twice a day is essential, but if there’s one thing that people are guilty of not doing enough, is flossing. It helps prevent accumulation of plaque on your enamel.A lot of lifestyle habits, too, are to blame for yellow teeth, including smoking, and excessive consumption of artificial ly fl av our ed sports drinks.
DRINKING TOO MUCH OF TEA AND COFFEE MEANS YOUR ENAMEL IS IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THEM. SINCE ENAMEL IS POROUS, THE STAINS GO DEEPER