Have you noticed your teeth losing their gleam to yellow stains? Discoloration is a normal part of aging, but a range of foods, medications and even mouthwashes will stain teeth too.
Teeth whitening is a cosmetic procedure, so most American dental plans do not cover it. A few dental insurance plans for individuals do, so it is worth checking your policy rather than assuming.
Whether or not your dental plan covers whitening, there are things you can do at home to lift yellow stains.
Causes of Yellow Stains
Teeth discolor for all sorts of reasons. The common ones are:
- Chronic dry mouth or a lack of saliva
- Poor oral hygiene
- Excessive fluoride
- Trauma to the mouth
- Genetics
- Aging
- Side effects of certain medications and mouthwashes
- Smoking or chewing tobacco
- A diet heavy in sugar and simple carbohydrates
- Strongly colored foods and drinks, such as tea, coffee, red wine and blueberries
Usually more than one of these is at work, which is why the staining builds up gradually over years rather than appearing overnight.
Different Ways to Remove Yellow Stains
Here are the options worth trying.
Brush and Floss Regularly
Tooth color does fade naturally with age, but most of the time the culprit is plaque building up on the teeth. Obvious as it sounds, regular brushing and flossing is the single thing that makes the most difference.
Brush at least twice a day and floss at least once, to clear bacteria out of the mouth and keep plaque from accumulating.
Toothpaste gently rubs surface stains away, while flossing gets at the bacteria between the teeth. On top of that, whether you have a full coverage dental plan or a basic one, cleanings are covered. Use them.
Brushing with Baking Soda
Baking soda has mild whitening properties, which is why it turns up in so many toothpastes. It is a gentle abrasive that scrubs surface stains off the teeth.
According to research, baking soda also creates an alkaline environment in the mouth that slows bacterial growth. Do not expect an overnight change. The effect is gradual.
Studies have found that toothpastes containing baking soda remove yellow stains more effectively than those without it.
To make a paste, combine:
- Water: 2 teaspoons
- Baking soda: 1 teaspoon
Apply it with your brush and brush as you normally would. Twice or three times a week is enough to see a difference.
Using Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide has natural bleaching properties and kills bacteria in the mouth. It has been used to disinfect wounds for years, and it is the active ingredient in a great many whitening products, including whitening toothpastes.
One study found that toothpastes containing both baking soda and hydrogen peroxide whiten teeth noticeably.
Use a small amount and dilute it well. You can use it as a mouthwash, but only at a 1.5% solution mixed with water, to avoid irritating your gums.
You can also mix hydrogen peroxide with baking soda:
- Hydrogen peroxide: 2 teaspoons
- Baking soda: 1 teaspoon
Make a paste and brush gently with it. Use this mixture no more than once a week.
A Word on Activated Charcoal
Charcoal toothpastes and powders are marketed hard as a whitening fix, and they are worth treating with caution. The American Dental Association has not given its Seal of Acceptance to any charcoal toothpaste, and the concern is abrasion. Charcoal is abrasive enough to wear away enamel, and enamel does not grow back. Thinner enamel also exposes more of the yellowish dentin underneath, which is the opposite of what you were trying to achieve.
If you want to try it, speak to your dentist first, and stop if your teeth start to feel sensitive.
Preventing Tooth Stains
Prevention beats every remedy on this page. A few things help:
- Cut back on the foods and drinks that stain, including dark berries, soda, red wine and coffee. You do not have to give them up, just limit them, and brush properly afterwards.
- Cut out smoking and chewing tobacco. Both are major causes of yellow staining.
- Reduce the sugar in your diet. A high sugar intake feeds Streptococcus mutans bacteria, which drive plaque formation and gingivitis.
- Get more calcium. Discoloration is partly caused by enamel eroding and exposing the dentin beneath it. Foods rich in calcium, such as milk, cheese and broccoli, help keep enamel strong.
Beyond home remedies, there are dental treatments that lift yellow stains and bring teeth back closer to their natural shade. Many dentists offer whitening treatments you can book through your dental plan.
Wondering which dental plans include teeth whitening? Take a look at Dental Plan Provider. You get an extra 10% off when you join online.
We can help you keep your oral health in check without breaking the bank.
