Yellow teeth are caused by various factors and can range from simply annoying to downright dangerous. Your teeth color has a lot to do with the health of your gums and how well you take care of your teeth. Some people have a natural yellow tinge to their teeth, but several things can cause your teeth to be yellow on top of that. For instance, smoking cigarettes is one of the worst habits that can change the color of your teeth. However, if you don’t smoke, you may have some other issues causing them to be yellow.
Lack of proper oral hygiene is also a common cause, and it’s easy to correct by brushing and flossing every day. If a person has had excessive exposure to fluoride while growing up, this can also make their teeth yellow. Other factors include medication use, certain foods or beverages such as coffee, tea, red wine, or even certain vitamins or medications.
There are many reasons for yellowing teeth and many ways to prevent it from happening. Look for these causes and take steps to correct the problem.
Blueberries
Many factors can cause teeth to discolor, but the most common culprits are food and drinks. Food, especially rich in pigments, can stain teeth yellow. While some foods may cause temporary stains, others may leave behind permanent discoloration.
For example, blueberries contain an antioxidant called anthocyanin, which gives them a distinctive purple color. Because of this pigment, blueberries can stain teeth yellow over time. The bleaching effect is increased bacteria on the teeth due to polyphenols in blueberries.
One research study found that a blueberry extract caused teeth to turn yellow in five volunteers temporarily. However, it is unclear whether this discoloration would last after extended exposure to the extract or if it would occur in all people who eat blueberries.
It is also unknown whether eating blueberries directly causes discoloration or if you would have to make a smoothie or other beverage containing berries for this effect to occur. These results suggest that you brush your teeth after eating fresh blueberries.