Why Teeth Turn Yellow

Teeth may become discolored for a wide variety of reasons. Yellow teeth may be a result of habits, your lifestyle, your genetics or simply the aging process. To treat yellowing, try at home whitening agents or visit your dentist for in-office treatments like whitening or dental veneers.

Food

• Many foods can discolor teeth, resulting in yellow stains over time. Foods that include the compound tannic acid cause yellow stains, such as coffee, red wine and tea. Other foods like apples and potatoes may cause yellowing. Drinking soda frequently can also result in yellow teeth over time. To reduce yellowing from foods, drink coffee, tea and soda through a straw and practice good oral hygiene.

Smoking

• Smoking cigarettes, cigars, pipes or using chewing tobacco contributes to yellowing teeth. While smoking or chewing tobacco, the teeth are constantly in contact with compounds that stain the surface of the tooth. The more your teeth are exposed to tobacco, the greater the degree of yellowing.

Medications

• Some medications cause teeth to yellow. When the drugs tetracycline, minocycline and doxycycline are given to children as their teeth are developing, yellow stains develop. Other drugs, such as antihistamines, antipsychotics and blood pressure medication may all contribute to discoloration.

Diseases

• Dental diseases may result in discolored, yellow teeth. Other disease, like infections while a fetus is in utero may result in yellowed teeth later in life for the child. Treatments for some diseases, such as chemotherapy or radiation for cancers, can change the color of teeth to a yellow hue.

Age

• As a person ages, their teeth naturally become more yellow. Teeth appear whiter when there is more enamel to reflect light, so as you age, the enamel is worn away and the teeth appear yellow.

Poor Oral Hygiene

• Poor oral hygiene may result in stains that make teeth appear yellow. Plaque on teeth builds up and reacts with compounds in foods to decay teeth and stain teeth. If teeth have been treated with fillings, crowns or other restorative techniques and these restorations fail, the tooth surrounding or below the restoration may be yellow in appearance.