TLDR: Teeth are not supposed to be pearly white. Teeth naturally have a yellow shade to them due to the dentin under the enamel.
In today’s culture, many people dream of the ‘Hollywood smile’ just like celebrities. We’re not just referring to perfect symmetrical dentiton, but sparkling white teeth. Is that achievable, or worth achieving?
This is an anatomy of a tooth. As you might notice, the dentine layer is yellow. Because enamel is translucent, you can see through to the dentine, hence the yellowish colour of the teeth.
Dentin is a bone-like matrix that is porous and yellow-hued material. Overall, the dentin contains fewer minerals and is less brittle or breakable than the outer enamel. Its serves to provide support to the enamel, and for transmitting impulses from the enamel or root to the dental pulp.
Slightly yellow teeth are natural, bright yellow teeth can be a bit annoying. But freakishly white teeth? To me, those are as off-putting as bright yellow teeth, and it requires bleaching to reach that level.
Understand that the yellow shade of teeth has always been that way since 200,000 years of evolution. Just like your hair and skin color, there are different colors for teeth too. Our teeth generally yellow more as we age too.
Some people have this misconception, but yellow teeth don’t equal bad! If you’re worried over the yellowness of your teeth, you’re concern over beauty. The color does not influence the health of the tooth for the most part.
Next time you’re at the dentist clinic, ask them to show you what shade your teeth are by comparing them to a shade guide. The matching of teeth to restorative materials is done manually and visually via this tool. Shade guides can be arranged from dark to light, and you can observe where you’re at on the spectrum.
Throughout the years, I’ve had patients ask me about whitening, and their teeth are already a very light shade. I tell them they don’t need it. It’s unfortunate what television and marketing do to some people’s perception of normal. Never quite understood personally why people thought stripping the enamel off the surface of their teeth so that they looked whiter was a good idea in the first place. You risk having sensitive teeth later and the whitening effect will fade away over time.
Well then, is teeth bleaching bad? No! Nothing wrong with getting teeth whitened. Having white teeth can appear very impressive, especially on Instagram. If you’re into aesthetics, go for it. Though, do you know what’s more impressive? Zero cavities, fresh breath, no gum disease.
Don’t forget, we all have yellow teeth. It’s just a matter of what shade. Genetics might have something to do with it, but your diet can as well. Different foods and drinks stain the teeth.
What makes teeth yellower than it should?
- Mouthwashes with higher % of chlorhexidine.
- Plaque buildup due to lack of oral hygiene.
- Yup, tobacco is notorious for staining your teeth.
- Too much exposure to fluoride during early childhood, e.g. swollowing toothpaste as a kid.
- Antibiotics (Tetracycline) when teeth are in development.
- Certain beverages such as coffee, tea, soda, and red wine.
- Dentinogenesis imperfecta – a rare dental condition, can even cause gray, amber, or purple discolorations of the teeth.
- Have pale skin? Teeth will appear yellow. Have dark lipstick? Teeth suddenly appear white.
With regards to teeth whitening/bleaching, it depends on how they got yellow and how they got white. If you bleached your teeth or used treatments to get them white then teeth that just yellowed naturally over time would be preferable.
If you’re still feeling anxiety because of your teeth, seek professional help from the dentist or try over the counter whitening kits first. Do them consistently and daily as the instructions say. A lot of the times they fail because patients quit in the middle of them. Professional whitening kits get great results because they’re stronger.
Prevention is better than cure. Brushing your teeth after meals will help to prevent some stains. We, dentists, recommend that you rinse your mouth with water after having wine, coffee, or other drinks or foods that can cause teeth staining. Regular cleanings also will help to remove surface stains.
Dr Edward Tay is a dentist with interest in preventive dentistry and empowering others in oral self-care.
[This article belongs to The Malaysian Medical Gazette. Any republication (online or offline) without written permission from The Malaysian Medical Gazette is prohibited.]