We all know that our skin ages. But did you know that your teeth can age as well? As they age, teeth can take on a yellow hue. So is this inevitable, or can you keep your pearly whites white? Here’s how to stop teeth yellowing.

Why are my teeth yellow?

Coffee and smoking stains teeth, but this staining is to outer layer of the tooth (the enamel). The inner layer of the tooth is made up of a living tissue called dentin. Dentin ages just like the skin and all of our other tissues age. When dentin ages, it turns yellow.

As your tooth enamel is a clear layer, the inner yellowing will be visible and your teeth will change colour.

What causes the teeth to age?

Grinding the teeth

As your teeth age, the dentin inside of them shrinks. Grinding your teeth puts pressure on the tissues and speeds up the shrinking/ageing process.

Injury

Say you fell when you were a child and one of your teeth took a knock. You might find that this tooth goes yellow faster than your other teeth, because the impact and damage causes it to age faster.

Bad diet

Poor nutrition ages the body and the teeth faster, causing premature yellowing.

Can I stop teeth yellowing?

You may not be able to prevent this process completely as it’s related to ageing, but you can slow it down by:

• Speaking to your dentist about getting help to stop grinding your teeth.
• Protecting your teeth from impact-no playing contact sports without a mouthguard!
• Eating well and focusing on improving your wellbeing.

Stop teeth yellowing-inside and out

While you can treat external staining with a good teeth whitening pen, internal yellowing is a part of the ageing process. But by following the tips above, you can stop your teeth from ageing prematurely and keep them whiter for longer.

For more articles on oral health and the products you need for a bright and healthy smile, check out the rest of our blog.