Help! My Teeth are Yellow

A perfect smile is rarely a product of nature, and when you catch a glance of your own pearly whites, you may be surprised at how far away from white you really are. It’s a moment that virtually everyone has at some point.

We take your smile seriously at New York Dental Health, with seven locations in the Bronx and New York City, New York. When your dental health is good overall, but you’re not happy with the brightness of your smile, visit us to learn more about your treatment options.

Why are teeth yellow, not white?

You don’t start life with white teeth. Even when they first emerge, they’re usually a shade of ivory, a hue that’s on the yellow side of pure, paper white.

The perfect white smile is largely a Hollywood invention. It’s an aesthetic that resonates and makes a good first impression on many, but it takes work to maintain. Here are some of the most common factors that cause your teeth to yellow:

Getting older: tooth enamel thins over time, revealing more of the yellow dentin layer beneath
Oral hygiene: failing to perform twice-daily brushing and once-daily flossing dulls tooth color
Food stains: bright berries, coffee, tea, and wine are the most common culprits
Tobacco: smoking or chewing tobacco stains your teeth yellow-brown
Genetics: your natural tooth color can be inherited
Medical reasons: illnesses and medications can affect the color of your teeth

Often, more than one of these staining factors contributes.

Whiter teeth from the dentist’s office

The best way to achieve the shade of whiteness you want is with a visit to the nearest New York Dental Health office. We can give you a thorough oral exam to establish the nature of your teeth staining as well as developing an individual treatment plan.

Brighter teeth start with dental cleaning and polishing, a regular part of your six-month check-ups. If your smile seems only a little off and you’re overdue for a visit, start there.

Philips Zoom!® whitening

We’re proud to offer Philips Zoom! chairside teeth whitening to our patients. There’s no faster way to deliver dramatically whiter teeth today. Using powerful light-activated bleaches, we can brighten your teeth up to eight shades whiter in a single visit.

You can extend the effects of your treatment with follow-up care at home. We can fit you with a custom whitening tray tailored to your mouth, as well as recommend both products and treatment plans to prolong the benefits of your Zoom! session.

Veneers

When you want to choose your level of whiteness regardless of your current state, porcelain veneers may be the answer. These surface caps not only improve brightness, they can also help strengthen chipped or cracked teeth, fill gaps, and even up alignment.

You may have other options, too, like dental bonding. And lifestyle changes away from staining foods and other triggers can keep your smile at its highest level.

Contact the nearest office of New York Dental Health, online or by phone, to schedule a teeth whitening consultation today.