Think of your favorite photos. You’re likely doing something unforgettable or are surrounded by the people you love the most and everybody is smiling. Now think about one that you took more recently. Does your smile look a bit duller or a little more yellow? If it does, you’re not alone. As you get older, the outer layer of your teeth (the enamel) gradually thins, exposing more of the next layer (the dentin), which is naturally yellow, according to the Cleveland Clinic. And to make matters worse, there are everyday habits that can speed up this process.
Meet the experts: Harold Katz, D.D.S., founder of The California Breath Clinics and creator of Therabreath; Katia Friedman, D.D.S., co-founder of Friedman Dental Group in Florida; Mazen Natour, D.M.D., a Manhattan-based prosthodontist.
The good news: There are some changes you can make to keep enamel stronger and prevent that dentin from peeking through—as well as reduce the food stains that can make teeth appear lackluster as well. Here are some yellow teeth habits to switch up.
You’re rinsing with mouthwash too often.
One of the toughest environments for your teeth is a dry mouth, said dentist Harold Katz, D.D.S., founder of The California Breath Clinics and creator of Therabreath, a line of oral care products. That’s because saliva has a combination of minerals, enzymes, and oxygen compounds that keep the pH balance in your mouth neutral—reducing the acid that can wear away enamel. Saliva also bathes the teeth regularly to knock out bacteria and to prevent stains from adhering to enamel.
“What is disheartening is that many commercial mouthwashes are very acidic, and if used very frequently, may destroy precious tooth enamel,” said Dr. Katz. Indeed, a study in the Journal of Oral Science found that people who used mouthwash for 12 weeks had more enamel loss and tooth color change over that time than a control group. So, if you’re taking frequent swigs of mouthwash to keep breath fresh, you may want to consider other strategies, like brushing more frequently and getting regular dental cleanings.
You’re consuming a lot of acidic fruits, vegetables, and drinks.
Just as more acidic mouthwash can thin out tooth enamel, so too can acids in the diet, said Dr. Katz. That’s why some of the worst foods for your teeth include citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes, pineapples, vinegar, carbonated beverages, some sports drinks, and certain salad dressings that are vinegar-based. A recent study in BMC Oral Health confirmed that acidic beverages have an erosive effect on teeth.
That doesn’t mean you need to cut all of these out of your life entirely, especially the ones that are good for you. But it is a good idea to sip some water after eating or drinking them, advised Dr. Katz, adding that consuming more water can prevent staining as well, especially from things like blueberries, dark tea, and red wine.
You run on coffee.
Although researchers have suggested that the caffeine and antioxidants in coffee can yield some health benefits, like increasing your longevity, it’s a beverage that can be tough on your teeth, said dentist Katia Friedman, D.D.S., co-founder of Friedman Dental Group in Florida. “Sipping two or three coffees every day allows the enamel of your teeth to be in constant contact with a staining agent,” she said. Since enamel is porous, these stains can settle in and cause yellowing if they’re not regularly rinsed and brushed away.
It’s not the quantity of coffee that’s a concern, it’s the sipping that can be especially damaging, Dr. Friedman said. Drinking coffee more quickly, or even through a straw (as long as you’re positioning the straw behind your teeth), can reduce the amount of time the staining agents linger in the mouth. And research in the Italian Journal of Food Science warns that you should be aware of black tea as well, as it can have the same staining effect.
You smoke cigarettes.
The chemicals in cigarettes and pipe tobacco have a staining effect on teeth because they cling to enamel, said Dr. Friedman, and the longer you smoke, the more visible this becomes.
Smoking has also been associated with a bevy of other oral health issues like gum disease, tooth decay, and bleeding gums, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—so consider whiter and stronger teeth just one more reason to consider quitting.
You aren’t following your dentist’s orders.
Past surveys by the CDC and American Dental Association have found that only 30 to 40% of adults floss their teeth daily. And yet, this simple practice could be the key to preventing your teeth from yellowing.
Dr. Friedman said that being less-than-consistent on brushing and flossing can cause an accumulation of plaque on your enamel. This can thin that protective layer, and also cause your teeth to appear yellow from the film of bacteria. A good home-care regimen, coupled with an in-office cleaning at least once a year, can go a long way toward scrubbing that yellow out, she said.
You’re brushing too hard.
While it’s great to have a regular brushing routine, more pressure and speed doesn’t mean a healthier mouth—in fact, it could have the opposite effect, noted Mazen Natour, D.M.D., a Manhattan-based prosthodontist. This can be especially true if your toothpaste contains abrasive agents, such as choices that aren’t approved by the American Dental Association, he adds. “If you brush too hard or too often, you might wear away the thin enamel layer and expose the dentin layer,” explained Dr. Natour.
If your teeth are already yellowing, check with your dentist for professional whitening options as well as advice about changing your habits, he suggested. There are several choices for getting your pearly whites back to a selfie-ready smile.
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