Dr Vanya Vasudeva
Smile is an expression denoting pleasure, sociability, happiness, joy or amusement. A lot of people don’t understand how important their smiles are and how important this aspect of communication we do with each other every day and feature of ideal or perfect smile is:
All your front teeth should be visible. Usually, people should also be able to see parts of your upper premolars, the teeth next to your canines. … This is called your smile arc. No more than 2 millimeters of your gums should show above your teeth.
What Causes Yellow Teeth?
Food and Drinks: Coffee and Cigarettes leave stains on your teeth over time. Enamel naturally wears thin as people age, but acids from foods and drinks such as sour candies, oranges and soda also thin the enamel by eroding its surface. Saliva neutralizes acid and washes it away, but people suffering from dry mouth miss out on this protective effect.
Diseases: Several diseases that affect enamel (the hard surface of the teeth) and dentin (the underlying material under enamel) can lead to tooth discoloration. Treatments for certain conditions can also affect tooth color. For example, head and neck radiation and chemotherapy can cause teeth discoloration. In addition, certain infections in pregnant mothers can cause tooth discoloration in the infant by affecting enamel devolpment.
Medications: The antibiotics tetracycline and doxycycline are known to discolor teeth when given to children whose teeth are still developing (before age 8). Mouth rinses and washes containing chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride can also stain teeth. Antihistamine (like Benadryl), antipsychotic drugs, and drugs for high blood pressure also cause teeth discoloration.
Advancing age: As you age, the outer layer of enamel on your teeth gets worn away, revealing the natural yellow color of dentin
Genetics: Some people have naturally brighter or thicker enamel than others. Tooth enamel is the hard, white surface of your teeth, and underneath it is a pale brown substance called dentin. Thick enamel looks white, but thin enamel allows dentin tones to show through, making teeth look yellow from the outside. Children who breathe through their mouths due to blocked nasal passages can prevent saliva from remoisturizing the mouth when it’s closed – putting them at risk of developing thin enamel.
Environment: Excessive fluoride either from environmental sources (naturally high fluoride levels in water) or from excessive use (fluoride applications, rinses, toothpaste, and fluoride supplements taken by mouths) can cause teeth discoloration.
Trauma: For example, damage from a fall can disturb enamel formation in young children whose teeth are still developing. Trauma can also cause discoloration to adult teeth.
How Can I Prevent Teeth Discoloration: By making a few simple lifestyle changes, you may be able to prevent teeth discoloration. For example, if you are a coffee drinker and/or smoker, consider cutting back or quitting all together. Also, improve your dental hygiene by brushing, flossing, and using a mouthwash daily, and getting your teeth cleaned by a dentist every 6 months. If your teeth appear to be an abnormal color without ready explanation and, if other symptoms are also present consult dentist.
What Treatment Options Are Available to Whiten Teeth?
Treatment options to whiten teeth can vary depending on the cause of the discoloration and may include:
Using proper tooth brushing and flossing techniques Avoidance of the foods and beverages that cause stains.
Bonding: ? To repair decayed teeth (composite resins are used to fill cavities)
* To repair chipped or cracked teeth
* To improve the appearance of discolored teeth
* To close spaces between teeth
* To make teeth look longer
* To change the shape of teeth
* As a cosmetic alternative to amalgam fillings
* To protect a portion of the tooth’s root that has been exposed when gums recedes.
Veneers: Dental veneers (sometimes called porcelain veneers or dental porcelain laminates) are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front surface of teeth to improve your appearance. These shells are bonded to the front of the teeth changing their color, shape, size, or length.
Using over-the-counter whitening agents In-office whitening procedures
Orthodontic treatment: Crooked teeth and teeth that do not fit together correctly are harder to keep clean, are at risk of being lost early due to tooth decay and periodontal disease, and cause extra stress on the chewing muscles that can lead to headaches, TMJ syndrome and neck, shoulder and back pain. Teeth that are crooked or not in the right place can also detract from one’s appearance. The benefits of orthodontic treatment include a healthier mouth, a more pleasing appearance, and teeth that are more likely to last a lifetime. The orthodontic treatment can be with wires called as Braces or without braces called Aligners.
With Braces Aligner With so many ways to treat yellow teeth, there’s no reason to hide a beautiful smile.
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