Your romantic life. In our modern day of internet dating and blind date setups, first impressions can be a big, big deal. That said, few people include “canary yellow teeth” on their list of turn-ons. In fact, both men and women commonly find yellow teeth a turn-off at best and a deal breaker at worst.
In most cases, yellow teeth are considered unattractive and, at times, can be mistaken for poor oral hygiene.
Dentin is naturally yellow. Over time, enamel begins to erode and wear away. As the enamel wears away, the dentin is left exposed, creating a yellowing tint to the teeth. Yellow teeth are not aesthetically pleasing and can cause patients to feel that their smiles look dirty or aged.
Having yellow teeth can be embarrassing, but doesn't necessarily mean that your teeth are unclean or unhealthy. Rather than worrying about your dental cleaning routine, you should instead focus on the products that you eat, drink and smoke.
Bad oral hygiene, tobacco products, certain medications, certain foods and beverages, and the aging process can all cause discoloration or yellowing of teeth. If the yellow color is coming from plaque or tartar buildup, then it goes without saying that your teeth are not in great condition.
In fact, both men and women commonly find yellow teeth a turn-off at best and a deal breaker at worst. Studies have actually shown that both men and women find yellow teeth a worse characteristic in a potential date than spotty skin or bad table manners.
Your smile is like your calling card to the world. If you feel self-conscious about your smile, you might hide it from people. Yellow or stained teeth are among the most common reasons to feel self-conscious or embarrassed about your smile. The good news is that yellow or stained teeth are very fixable problems.
In a 2012 study, researchers learned that yellowed teeth downgraded a person's attractiveness. They believed this is because teeth are “ornaments” that can draw in potential suitors. When humans smile, we're like a colorful bird showing off its tail feathers.
You See Discoloration on Your Teeth
You may not have anyone or anything to compare them to. But sometimes variations in your tooth color can be very noticeable. Yellow teeth are a key indicator of discoloration. It's also a sign that it may be time to consider teeth whitening.
This is because the enamel, the protective layer outside your teeth, is white, but can be thinner for some people and even translucent. The layer directly under the enamel is light yellow. Therefore, it is perfectly natural to have a light yellow color on your teeth, and it is not caused by poor oral health.
Dentin, the hard inner surface of the tooth, contains a pulp that is yellowish in color. As enamel thins, the thicker interior will show through the more transparent, thin enamel surface. Yellow teeth can make you look even older than you are as well as give you an unhealthy appearance.
Use Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda
Using this mixture removes bacteria and buildup of plaque to get rid of surface stains. Create a hydrogen peroxide and baking soda paste and use it to brush your teeth. After that, use water to rinse the mouth. You can also create a mouthwash using equal amounts of each ingredient.
A yellow smile can make your teeth appear dull, aged and even unhealthy. And, with some causes attacking your tooth enamel, you could also be opening up the floodgates to oral health problems in the future, such as dental carries (cavities) and even tooth loss.
Poor Oral Hygiene: Poor oral hygiene is one of the causes of yellow teeth, but even the most diligent brushers and flossers can develop the discolored teeth that occur simply with age.
60% of men claimed they care the most about teeth for a potential date, compared to 71% of women who said the same thing. Good teeth play a huge role in the look of a person's smile. A great smile can mean so much and people who try to hide their smile can give off a bad vibe.
A smile can go a long way, and when it comes to first impressions, a smile can be a deal breaker. A recent perception study supports the importance of smiles and found that properly aligned teeth are a positive trigger for assumptions regarding attractiveness, success, popularity, intelligence, and overall health.
Yellow: Yellow teeth are common among adults. This color can result from age, a lack of hygiene, genetics and numerous other causes.
However some people have teeth appearing naturally yellow irrespective of the kind of foods they have. It is because the dentin layer beneath the enamel is naturally yellow. The color of the dentin is barely visible for some while in others who have thinner enamel the yellow shade appears more visible.
Myth #2: Yellow teeth are unhealthy.
Teeth that are not perfectly white can still be healthy. The teeth are considered unhealthy if their color is attributed to plaque buildup or staining. Having off-white teeth is often healthy.
A study has confirmed what we already know – that a white and evenly spaced set of teeth makes people seem more attractive. But it has also explained the reason. It is because teeth are the human equivalent of a peacock's tail – a sign of health and genetic quality designed to help choose a mate.
Aging and genetics
As you grow older, the outer layer of your tooth enamel can slowly wear away, and the yellow dentin underneath can sometimes be seen. Yellow teeth can also be hereditary, as some people simply inherit thicker tooth enamel than others.
Poor Oral Hygiene
Stained teeth also can be a sign of plaque buildup or tooth decay. When you do not routinely brush, floss and rinse your mouth to remove plaque buildup and help prevent tartar buildup, this can hasten teeth discoloration.
Thankfully, yellow teeth aren't forever. Not only can your teeth be whitened, but you can also adopt habits that keep them looking good. Use this blog to learn about why teeth become yellow, how you can fix them, and what you can do to prevent future discoloration.