Help! My Teeth are Yellow

If your teeth have become yellowed or stained, it can really put a dent in your smile and your self-confidence. That may be why, according to the American Association of Orthodontists, almost 90% of dental patients ask their providers for teeth whitening.

At Riverdale Dental Arts in the Bronx, New York, our team led by a hygienist is proud to offer the Philips Zoom!® Teeth Whitening System for patients interested in reversing the yellowing process and making their smiles dazzle.

Why are my teeth yellow (or other colors)?

Your natural teeth come in off-white to white in color, but they can turn yellow for a couple of reasons. First, poor oral hygiene can cause a buildup of bacteria and food debris. As the bacteria consume the sugars in the food, they form a plaque that sticks to your teeth and gums, turning them yellowish in color. This is called extrinsic staining, since it occurs outside of the tooth structure.

Second, as you get older, the hard enamel covering your teeth thins, and the yellow dentin layer beneath starts to show through. This is called intrinsic staining, since it occurs within the tooth structure.

If your teeth have turned other colors or sport stains, the cause may be the foods and drinks you consume, the tobacco you use, and the medicines you take. Dark-staining culprits include:

• Coffee and tea
• Blueberries and blackberries
• Tomato sauce
• Balsamic vinegar
• Soy sauce
• Dark cola
• Red wine
• Fruit juices
• Energy drinks
• Any tobacco products
• Tetracycline and doxycycline (antibiotics)
• Antihistamines

In addition, hard candies and gummies that contain colored dyes, as well as dark chocolate, can turn your teeth yellow and dingy if you don’t brush and floss properly.

Can you help?

Yes, we can! Our in-office Zoom! procedure provides a fast and efficient means of going from dinge to dazzling — eight shades more dazzling — in under an hour.

We use a professional-grade gel that contains a peroxide-based bleaching agent to remove the extrinsic yellowing (it can’t help much if you have thin enamel, since it can’t bleach the interior of the teeth) and lifts stains right off your teeth. If your problem stems from thin enamel, we have another option for you that we’ll discuss in a moment.

When you come in for your appointment, you relax in the treatment chair while your dental hygienist first protects your lips and gums prior to beginning the whitening process. 

Next, we apply the hydrogen peroxide gel to the front areas of your teeth. Then, we train a special LED light at the treatment area, activating the gel. The treatment process takes about 15 minutes to complete, and your entire visit takes less than an hour.

Once the gel has done its job, your dental hygienist removes it and rinses your mouth thoroughly. Finally, we apply a special gel to reduce post-treatment tooth sensitivity. After that, you’re free to go.

If you’ve gone to the trouble of whitening your teeth, you should also invest in the process of keeping them white. Try to avoid staining foods and beverages as much as possible, or at least rinse your mouth out after having them.

Eat high-water-content foods like celery and apples that encourage saliva production, or chew sugarless gum. Saliva is great at washing away bacteria and food debris before they have a chance to build up on your teeth or stain them.

Get behind a rigorous at-home dental health regimen that includes brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and using an antiseptic mouth rinse to kill bacteria.

And, absolutely, schedule in your twice-yearly professional dental cleanings. There are hard-to-reach areas in your mouth that you may miss while brushing, but our team has the tools and expertise to make sure all mouthparts are squeaky clean.

If you’re not a good candidate for teeth whitening, such as having a lot of bridges and crowns that don’t bleach, we have another option for you — dental veneers. These are wafer-thin, tooth-colored, porcelain shells bonded to the front surface of your teeth, covering over imperfections and protecting the teeth beneath.

Are your teeth yellow? Do you want to do something about that? Riverdale Dental Arts can help. 

Call our office at 718-548-1148, or book your appointment online with us today.