Imagine you really want to laugh or smile, but you can’t because you are scared that people might notice your yellow teeth.

That’s the story of everyone with discoloured teeth.

Yellow teeth drain your confidence and send the message that you don’t really care about yourself – even if you do.

The good thing about yellow teeth however, is that most times, it doesn’t mean you have problems with your teeth and you don’t really have to go see a dentist.

Let’s begin with what causes yellow teeth.

What Causes Yellow Teeth?

When you understand the cause of a thing, it makes it easier to tackle it.

For yellow teeth, this is how it happens:

The white surface of your teeth that everyone can see is called the enamel. Below the enamel is the dentin. This part of your tooth is slightly discoloured. It has a mild brown colour.

When your enamel becomes thinner, the dentin becomes visible through the enamel. Because of this, your enamel takes on a yellowish colour.

Normally as you grow older, your enamel becomes thinner. But when it comes to most cases of yellow teeth, our day to day activities are huge factors.

Do you know that normal daily activities such as drinking tea or coffee, eating candies and drinking soda can give you discoloured teeth?

The brownish colour of coffee stains the teeth. Sodas, candies and most processed food contain high acidic content which gradually washes away our enamel.

Your teeth can also become yellow when you smoke regularly and when you consume too much fluoride.

It might also interest you to know that when your mouth doesn’t secrete enough saliva, you get yellow teeth. This is because saliva protects the enamel and reduces acidic effect on your teeth.

How to Whiten Your Teeth

Now, we know what causes yellow tooth, the next question is: how do you get your teeth to be white again?

Be Careful What You Eat

What you eat greatly affects your teeth. Below are some tips that should guide your diet:

1. Always drink water after eating

This might seem too simple but it is very effective. After eating food and drinking beverages and soft drinks, it is important that you drink water and rinse your mouth well. This helps to reduce the effect of the acidic content from what you have consumed. It also helps to reduce teeth stains.

2. If you must take a dark beverage, use a straw.

It is advisable that you stay away from dark beverages especially drinks that contain colouring. But if you must drink them, use a straw. That way, only your tongue gets coloured. The teeth would be barely affected.

3. Watch your sugar intake

Sugar is not good for your teeth. It is a major cause of various tooth problems. Sugar causes plaque to form around your teeth. This further gives your teeth a milky and yellowish colour.

If you have a sweet tooth, eat fruits instead. Whenever you take food with high sugar content, make sure to brush immediately you are done eating.

4. Eat food rich in calcium

Your teeth become yellow when your enamel becomes thin. To avoid this, you have to ensure it stays strong and solid. To achieve this, eat food rich in calcium. Food rich in calcium such as milk and cheese help to strengthen your enamel.

5. Eat fruits and vegetables

Vegetables and fruits do not only give your body nutrients, they help to clean the enamel. Though they are not as effective as brushing your teeth, they scrape off food residue off your teeth. This is because they are crunchy.

However, be wary of citrus fruits such as lemon, orange, lime, etc. They have high acidic content which will affect your enamel.

Watch Your Habits

Our daily activities immensely affect the health of our teeth. Some habits are good while others are not. Here are some tips to guide you:

1. Brush regularly

This might seem like an ancient rule but it is very effective: Brush twice in a day!

If possible, brush after every meal.

The importance of brushing can never be over emphasized. Brushing scrapes off food residue. This prevents plaque, teeth stains and tooth decay.

2. Quit smoking

I know that doing this is not as easy as it sounds. However, it is very important because as long as you keep on smoking, it would be hard to make your teeth white. Tobacco in cigarettes is responsible for tooth discoloration.

In general, smoking causes tooth decay, oral cancer and gum disease. Simply put, smoking destroys your teeth.

Create Your Own Natural Whitening Paste

The good thing about yellow teeth is that you can make it white without spending so much money on whitening products. You can create your own whitening paste from natural ingredients in the comfort of your home.

Here are some natural ingredients that should do the trick:

1. Coconut oil

This might seem hard to believe, but coconut oil helps to whiten your teeth. Coconut oil contains anti-microbial agents that help to clean your teeth and gums. The best part is that there is no complicated procedure.

Simply use a few drops of oil. Brush twice in a day. However, this should be done only after you have brushed with your regular tooth paste.

You could also add a few drops to cotton wool. Then gently use it to rub your teeth. Rinsing your mouth with coconut oil also helps. A tablespoon is enough. Do this twice daily.

2. Strawberry

Strawberry contains anti oxidants that help to keep your teeth healthy. It also contains malic acid which removes the yellow colour off your teeth. It is a natural exfoliating agent which leaves your teeth whiter.

Get three to four strawberries and grind into a paste. Rub the paste on your teeth with cotton wool. Do this twice daily.

You can also grind two strawberries and mix the pulp with half teaspoon of baking soda. Apply the paste on your teeth and leave it for five minutes. Then rinse off. Do this before you brush your teeth.

The trick to healthy teeth is to eat healthy food and to brush regularly. Put that in mind as you try out these tips. And even when your teeth become white, do not ignore these tips. Without the practice that got them white, your teeth are bound to get yellow again.