There could be a lot of reasons as to why you have yellowish teeth, it could be your diet with things like coffee, tea, dark colored foods that stain teeth over time, it could also be usage of tobacco, or poor oral hygiene and so on.
There could be a hundred reasons is what I am trying to say. It is important to just remind yourself that it is not always your fault and even if you have the best oral hygiene and the best routine for your teeth, it can still look yellowish, there sometimes might even be an underlying cause that is affecting the color of your teeth like a dental condition such as enamel hypoplasia or fluorosis (if you are suspecting this to be the reason then check with your local dentist to check it out).
But if that’s not the case then there can be things that help with teeth discoloration.
The obvious one would be to get a better oral hygiene routine. Studies show that using an electric toothbrush when used correctly is often more effective at removing plaque and improving the general health of your teeth. What is plaque you might ask? Plaque is a substance that usually appears from leftover food particles and saliva that’s mixed in your mouth, if you aren’t careful with brushing it every day and night then that plaque will build up on your teeth, and since the plaque contains bacteria, it can contribute to tooth decay and gum disease. Read more about that here.
According to an article written in 2023 by NBC News the two most recommended toothbrushes by doctors are the Philips Sonicare and Oral-B (but prefer the Sonicare over the Oral-b). It is important to obviously get one that is within your budget and something that you can afford to buy every three months. That’s right, you need to change your toothbrush every three months. The American dental association recommends that you change the toothbrush every three months since after that much usage, the bristle on the toothbrush begins to break and down which makes it become less effective at cleaning your teeth. Read more about that here.
Another thing that you can add to your daily oral hygiene is something called “oil pulling”. This is a practice that can be a little controversial to talk about, not many people (especially doctors) agree with the method. The reason is usually that there isn’t a lot of scientific research that can support it which can make it very risky since most conclusions are usually drawn from what the people themselves using it are saying. That is of course a good reference, but it is still important to remain cautious and maybe read more about it. But the general idea of oil pulling is basically where you take a spoonful of oil (a popular choice is extra virgin coconut oil) you obviously shouldn’t consume it but instead just swash it around your mouth for about 10-20 minutes. The benefits according to users online can include stuff like, improved bad breath, help with gum inflammation (like gingivitis), help against cavities and helping with gum diseases. I myself have been using oil pulling and must admit that it has improved my overall oral health. Do make sure after spitting it out (spit it out in a trash can since it can clog your pipes over time) and right after brushing your teeth carefully to eliminate all bacteria that might have been picked up when swishing and swashing the oil for those 10 minutes.
A famous newer thing that many people are using (that I know works) is crest white strips. It is kind of pricey but believe me it works and does genuinely make your teeth whiter. They are strips that you put on the top and the bottom of your teeth for 30 minutes a day. Although yes, this is kind of pricey it is still way cheaper than any other treatment that you would have to get a clinic.
