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You probs don’t pay much attention to your teeth apart from brushing them every day. Maintaining healthy teeth is super important in order to prevent decay and cavities as well as yellowing. There are a number of reasons why your teeth could be stained or yellow. Here’s why…
Genetics
Yellow toothy pegs can actually be passed down through your genes – another thing you can thank your mum and dad for! This comes down to how thick your tooth enamel is – you may be born with a thinner layer of enamel which allows your yellowy dentin to come through or with a thicker enamel which might look brighter and whiter.
Diet
Certain foods and drinks can stain your teeth because they penetrate the enamel and lead to long-term stains. Drinks like coffee, tea, red wine and soft drinks are particularly bad for the colour of your teeth.
Medication
Surprisingly some medication can actually discolour your teeth. For kids younger than eight years old, antibiotics like doxycycline and tetracycline can cause stained teeth. For adults certain antihistamines, meds for high blood pressure and antipsychotics can stain teeth. Check with your GP if you have any concerns about this.
Poor oral hygiene
If you are not brushing and flossing your teeth every day, plague and tartar will begin to build-up and can accelerate the rate of your teeth yellowing. It’s super easy to have a healthy oral routine so make sure to keep it up.
Age
As you age, teeth can appear more yellow due to your enamel thinning over time. While there’s obviously nothing you can do about getting older, you can maintain a routine of brushing and flossing to help keep your teeth and mouth healthy.
Not drinking enough water
We know that water keeps your body hydrated but it’s also important for your oral health. H20 keeps your teeth and gums healthy and helps to clear any access food acids or sugar after you’ve eaten so make sure you’re drinking your two litres of water every day.
Smoking
We all know that smoking is terrible for your health and you can also count yellow teeth in that. Smoking stains teeth and they will continue to darken the longer you smoke. Gross!
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