It’s probably safe to say that given the option, the vast majority of people would prefer not to have yellow teeth. At least, to the kind of extent where it is noticeable to other people.
At some point in time, the decision was made by human beings to interpret white teeth as desirable, healthy and generally preferable to yellower teeth. Despite the fact that in reality, teeth aren’t supposed to be white in the first place. In their natural state, teeth have a slightly yellow colour that is perfectly normal and healthy. It’s just that in this day and age, it isn’t considered particularly attractive.
Precisely why millions of people worldwide now regularly use all manner of DIY teeth whitening kitsand associated products to achieve a whiter smile. Some home teeth whitening kits get the job done more successfully than others, but all are created to basically do the same thing – eliminate stains and reduce yellowing. Nevertheless, there never has been and probably never will be a whitening treatment on the market that can permanentlyeliminate stains and yellowing.
For those looking to hold onto a whiter smile long term, it’s an on-going process of both prevention and maintenance.
Your Own Worst Enemy?
Unfortunately, research would seem to suggest that many of those who would prefer to live their lives with whiter teeth are in fact doing themselves no real favours whatsoever. Despite having every intention of doing whatever it takes to keep their teeth as white as possible, they make the kinds of everyday mistakes that can have the exact oppositeeffect.
In some instances, it’s a case of logic steering you down entirely the wrong path. Something that would seem an obvious approach to whiter teeth can actually make things worse than they already are. On the plus side, they’re also the kinds of mistakes that are easy to correct. Not to mention, shouldbe corrected as quickly as possible for the benefit of your oral health in general.
So with this in mind, what follows is a brief overview of five common mistakes that can cause yellow teeth – some of which you may have thought to be beneficial:
- Brushing Too Hard
First and foremost, you’d be forgiven for thinking that when brushing your teeth, harder is better. After all, the whole point of brushing your teeth is to ensure you remove as much debris and general nastiness as possible. Nevertheless, there is such a thing as brushing your teeth toohard. In fact, dentists suggest that the vast majority of people apply far too much pressure when brushing their teeth. Ideally, you should make every effort to use the gentlest possible action to get the job done. In addition, dentists comprehensively recommend using softer toothbrushes – never those with harder bristles. The harder you brush your teeth, the more likely you are to wear away at the enamel on the surface. After which, the yellow denting beneath will begin to show through and have an effect on the colour of your teeth.
- Brushing Too Often
It’s also exactly the same story when it comes to how oftenyou brush your teeth. Speak to any professional dentist and they will tell you the same – it’s advisable to brush your teeth 2 to 3 times a day and no more. Some people fall into the trap of assuming that the more frequently they brush their teeth, the better their teeth will look as a result. In reality, it’s the same as brushing too hard – you only stand to wear away the enamel and do your teeth a disservice. Brushing twice a day – morning and night – is considered optimum and doesn’t really need to be improved upon. Perhaps brushing lightly somewhere in the middle of the day when necessary, but never getting carried away simply for the sake of it. - Brushing Straight After Eating
It’s no secret that eating just about anything has the potential to trigger the kinds of attacks on your teeth that can be harmful to say the least. Plaque acid often attacks the teeth for up to 2 hours after eating, which can increase the risk of tooth decay and other unfortunate issues. As such, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the best thing you can do after eating is to brush your teeth straight away. In reality, this can actually do more harm than good. As the surface of your teeth is particularly sensitive after eating, it’s far better to reach for a bottle of mouthwash to give things a good rinse. If you do insist on brushing your teeth within the first 30 minutes or so after eating, you need to be incredibly gentle to avoid damaging the enamel. Alternatively, a piece of sugar-free chewing gum can also get the job done surprisingly effectively. - Stain-Causing Foods/Drinks
As far as everyday eating and drinking habits are concerned, there are certain foods and drinks that inherently increase the likelihood of stained and yellow teeth. Most of which are relatively obvious – tea, coffee, red wine and so on. It’s not necessarily a case of having to eliminate these from your life entirely, but to instead enjoy them in moderation. Not to mention, follow each ‘serving’ with a stick of gum to help keep things clean and white. If all else fails, simply rinsing out your mouth with water is better than doing nothing at all. - Smoking
Last but not least, perhaps the single worst thing anyone can do when it comes to the health and appearance of their teeth is to smoke tobacco. The effect tobacco smoke has on oral health in general really is catastrophic to say the least. If you think just smoking the odd cigarette here and there isn’t going to make any difference, you can think again. Every cigarette has a marked impact on the health and appearance of your teeth – often inflicting the kind of damage that can be irreparable. So along with contributing to a whiter smile, it’s in your best interests to quit smoking for the benefit of your health in general.
