No one wants to have teeth that look dull and yellow. Yellow teeth can give off a negative impression to others and cause you to be self-conscious about your smile. If your teeth are starting to look yellow a big part of correcting the issue is getting to the root of the problem. The top three potential reasons your teeth are starting to look yellow include your diet, your daily oral hygiene routine, and your lack of routine dental care. Exploring these three factors will help you determine which whitening efforts will provide you with the best results.

Your diet

The foods you eat and the drinks you drink impact the look of your teeth. Harmful bacteria can build up in your mouth when you eat a poor diet. These bacteria can lead to issues such as plaque, tartar, and gum disease. Plaque and tartar can cause your teeth to look dull and yellow. Some types of food can also damage your enamel which makes surface stains more likely. Dark drinks like coffee, soda, and wine can also lead to surface stains and cause your teeth to look yellow. You can combat the discoloration of your teeth by improving your diet and cutting back on drinks that can cause stains.

Your daily oral hygiene routine

Your daily oral hygiene routine is one of your most important defenses against tooth discoloration, decay, and gum disease. If there are elements of your oral hygiene routine that are lacking it can lead to the yellowing of your teeth. Brushing and flossing help remove new surface stains and prevent the buildup of harmful bacteria. Skipping out on one or both of these tasks can lead to serious issues with the look and health of your teeth. If you have noticed that your teeth are starting to get yellow, take a serious look at the quality of your daily oral hygiene routine.

Your lack of routine dental care

Another potential cause for yellow teeth is skipping out on routine dental care. When you go to the dentist for a routine checkup there are several things that happen. The dentist examines the condition of your teeth and mouth for signs of problems. And, the hygienist gives your teeth a thorough cleaning. The cleaning that your teeth receive at the dentist is much more thorough than you could get at home. Plaque and tartar are removed when you go to the dentist for your cleaning and routine examination twice per year. Plaque can cause your teeth to look dull and yellow. It is often difficult to completely remove plaque buildup on your own. Tartar is plaque that has hardened on your teeth and it can only be removed by scraping it off. When you skip out on routine dental visits you allow these yellowing elements to build up. And you risk developing other serious issues with your oral health.

If you have noticed that your teeth are starting to turn yellow take a look at your diet, your oral hygiene routine, and consider how long it has been since your last dental visit. A couple of simple changes and a visit to the dentist may be enough to reverse the yellowing that has begun. You can also look into the option of professional whitening to remove surface stains that have already accumulated.