Why teeth won’t whiten?

This blogpost will answer questions about why teeth won’t whiten. And will include the following topics:Why might your teeth whitening not have worked?

What causes yellow teeth?

5 Factors that affect the whiteness of your teeth

4 times teeth whitening won’t work so well

Remedies for yellow teeth

What teeth whitening procedure is best?

Why teeth won’t whiten?

There could be various reasons why your teeth won’t whiten but one most prevalent reason could be age. Teeth can get yellow or darken as you get older. The yellow dentin present beneath the enamel becomes increasingly evident when the enamel wears away. As a result, the teeth begin to become yellow.

Why might your teeth whitening not have worked?

Your past efforts at teeth whitening methods may have failed on certain occasions. You may have tried over-the-counter whitening products or had failed professional dental whitening treatments, and yet you still have discoloured portions on your teeth.

If your teeth and gums aren’t in the ideal state, or if you’ve had a lot of past dental treatment, standard teeth whitening procedures may not work for you. Porcelain crowns and the majority of regularly used dental bonding materials cannot be whitened. Teeth whitening procedures will be painful, as well as possibly useless, if you have gum disease.

Before you begin teeth whitening treatments, make sure you have your normal dental checkup and cleaning. If your teeth have too much plaque on them, your teeth whitening effects may not be as good as you’d like. Before you plan teeth whitening treatments, you may need to schedule additional dental work as well.

What causes yellow teeth?

There are many factors that can cause teeth to turn yellow.

Teeth can become yellow from:

certain foods or drinks, such as blueberries, red wine, coffee, or tea

a diet high in sugar and simple carbohydrates

smoking or chewing tobacco

side effects of certain medications and mouthwashes

age, as older adults are more likely to have yellow teeth

genetics

mouth trauma

excessive fluoride consumption

poor dental care and oral hygiene

chronic dry mouth or lack of saliva

5 Factors That Affect The Whiteness of your Teeth

According to American Australian Association, these are the five factors that affect the whiteness of your teeth:

Your diet

Foods and drinks that contain significant staining agents are among the most common causes of tooth staining. Their chromogens, or powerful colour pigments, attach to your tooth enamel.

Tobacco use

Tobacco contains compounds such as tar and nicotine, which leave stains that are difficult to remove. These two chemicals might cause your teeth to become yellow and discolour.

Age

The dentine is the softer layer of the tooth beneath the hard enamel. Brushing can cause the enamel to become thinner over time, allowing the yellow dentine to show through.

Trauma

Because of its reaction to an injury, a tooth that has been traumatised may change colour. It produces a darker coating in the tooth by laying down more dentine.

Medications

Certain drugs, such as antihistamines, antipsychotics, and blood pressure medications, might cause tooth darkening as a side effect. Antibiotic exposure in children might lead to discoloured adult teeth later in life. Chemotherapy and neck radiation are two medical treatments that have been reported to discolour teeth.

4 Times teeth whitening won’t work so well

Veneers, Bonded Teeth & Tooth-Colored Fillings

Porcelain and other cosmetic bonding materials do not respond to traditional whitening methods.

Any whitening process will not work if you have porcelain veneers, dentures, crowns, or dental implants, or if you have had cosmetic bonding or composite tooth-colored fillings..

If you’re thinking of whitening your teeth but don’t want to risk getting less-than-ideal results because of previous dental treatment, speak to your dentist about the best options for you.

Gum Disease Goes First

When you don’t have gum disease, not only will your outcomes improve, but you’ll also have a lot less discomfort during the whitening procedure.

Teeth whitening treatment may be extremely painful when your gums are red, inflamed, and bleeding, due to the irritation and sensitivity of your less-than-healthy gums.

Gum disease has been related to a variety of other health problems, including stroke, dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, pregnancy troubles, and others.

If you have indicators of gum disease (red, swollen, bleeding gums), do yourself a favour and focus on your health before thinking about teeth whitening..

Clean, Then Whiten

Do not expect effective result from any teeth whitening treatment if you haven’t kept up with your routine dental checkups and cleanings.

Plaque is a sticky film that forms on the surface of your teeth and contributes to tooth decay and gum disease if it is not eliminated.

Any teeth whitening procedure performed when plaque is evident is a waste of time and money — you won’t get the maximum benefit, and it’s harmful.

If you haven’t had your teeth cleaned in a while, do yourself a favour and have that basic preventative smile maintenance done before deciding on teeth whitening.

Broken Fillings & Cavities

Before undertaking any teeth whitening treatment, whether it’s an over-the-counter remedy or an in-office whitening solution at your dentist, be sure your teeth and gums are in good health.

Remedies for yellow teeth

Here are seven natural options for getting rid of yellow teeth.

Choosing a few treatments and rotating them throughout the week may be the best option. Here are some of the recommendations

Brushing your teeth

Brushing your teeth more frequently and correctly should be your first priority. Brushing after having meals and liquids that might cause yellow teeth is very important.

Brushing just after eating or drinking acidic foods and drinks should be avoided. Brushing too soon might cause the acids to eat away at more enamel, resulting in erosion..

Brush your teeth for 2 minutes each at least twice a day. Make sure you go into every crack and crevice. Brush your teeth in a circular manner to protect your gums. Brush your teeth on all sides, including the front, back, and chewing surfaces.

According to a 2018 research, brushing your teeth with whitening toothpaste can also help whiten your teeth. These whitening toothpastes include moderate abrasives that gently exfoliate the teeth to eliminate surface stains while keeping them safe.

Using an electric toothbrush may also be more effective in removing surface stains.

Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide

Plaque accumulation and germs are said to be removed by applying a paste made of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to the teeth.

To form a paste, combine one tablespoon baking soda and two teaspoons hydrogen peroxide. After brushing with this paste, rinse your mouth with water thoroughly. Mouthwash may be made using the equal proportions of ingredients. Baking soda mixed with water is another option.

Coconut oil pulling

Coconut oil pulling is supposed to help whiten teeth by removing plaque and bacteria from the mouth. Always look for a high-quality, organic oil that doesn’t include any dangerous additives.

For 10 to 30 minutes, swish 1 to 2 tablespoons of liquid coconut oil in your mouth. Do not allow the oil to come into contact with the back of your throat. The oil includes toxins and bacteria from your mouth, so don’t swallow it..

Spit it into the toilet or a wastepaper basket to avoid clogging drains. Rinse your mouth with water and then drink a full glass of water. Then brush your teeth.

There are no specific studies that confirm the teeth whitening effect of oil pulling.

Apple cider vinegar

To whiten teeth, use very little quantities of apple cider vinegar.

Mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 6 ounces of water to make mouthwash. For 30 seconds, swish the solution. Then, rinse your mouth with water and brush your teeth.

It should be noted, however, that it has the ability to affect the hardness and surface structure of teeth. So, use it with caution and only for short time periods. More human study is needed to expand on these findings.

Lemon, orange, or banana peels

Some individuals believe that rubbing the peels of lemons, oranges, or bananas on your teeth would whiten them. The compounds d-limonene and/or citric acid, which may be found in various citrus fruit peels, are thought to help whiten teeth.

Rub the apple peels gently on your teeth for 2 minutes. After that, make sure to completely rinse your mouth and brush your teeth.

There isn’t any scientific evidence that using fruit peels to whiten teeth is helpful.

People who brushed twice a day for four weeks with a toothpaste containing d-limonene and a whitening solution have seen a considerable reduction in smoking stains, albeit it didn’t erase long-term smoking stains or tea stains.

Because fruit is acidic, be careful while using this method. Your enamel might be eroded and worn away by the acid. Please immediately stop using this method if you find your teeth getting more sensitive.

Activated charcoal

Activated charcoal may be used to eliminate stains from your teeth. Because of its great absorbency, charcoal is said to be able to remove pigments and stains from your teeth. It’s also supposed to clear the mouth of bacteria and toxins.

There are toothpastes that contain activated charcoal and claim to whiten teeth.

Place the contents of an activated charcoal capsule on your toothbrush. Brush your teeth carefully for 2 minutes in small circles. Because it might be abrasive, pay specific attention to the area around your gums. After that, spit it out. Don’t be too harsh with your brushing.

You can dab the charcoal on your teeth if your teeth are sensitive or if you want to reduce the abrasiveness of the charcoal. Allow 2 minutes for it to work.

You may also manufacture a mouthwash by mixing activated charcoal with a tiny amount of water. After 2 minutes, swish this solution and spit it out. After using activated charcoal, rinse your mouth well with water.

Eating fruits and vegetables with a higher water content

It’s been suggested that eating raw, high-water-content fruits and vegetables might help maintain your teeth healthy. The water content is supposed to remove plaque and germs from your teeth and gums, which can cause yellow teeth.

At the end of a meal, chewing on crisp fruits and vegetables may help to enhance saliva production. This can assist in the removal of food particles lodged in your teeth as well as the removal of any toxic acids.

While there’s no denying that eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is beneficial to your dental and general health, there isn’t much scientific proof to back up these statements. However, consuming these nutritious meals throughout the day will not hurt you.

What are Your Whitening Options?

Professional Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening can be done at the dentist office or at home. Professional teeth whitening is suitable for those who have extrinsic stains, which are produced only by coffee, tea, and cigarettes, and may thus be eradicated with dental cleaning or bleaching.

One office visit is required for in-office teeth whitening, which involves the use of a special light to increase the action of a whitening gel applied to your teeth. At-home bleaching entails the use of custom-made trays into which a professional-grade whitening gel is placed. Your dentist’s instructions and suggestions should be followed when using the tray..

Dental Veneers or Crowns

Patients with sensitive teeth or gum problems should avoid teeth whitening treatments. If your dentist believes you are not a good candidate for professional teeth whitening, dental veneers or crowns may be recommended.

Furthermore, if you already have veneers or crowns and veneers on your teeth and want to whiten them, dental bleaching may not be the best option since it will result in a mouth full of different coloured teeth.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Why are my teeth not whitening?

As we get older the enamel of our tooth wears away and the inner layer of dentin becomes more and more visible which is yellow in colour. Therefore the teeth start appearing yellow and no whitening treatment works on them.

Why wont my yellow teeth go away?

Plaque present on the teeth gives them a yellowish appearance and therefore until the teeth are professionally cleaned they will appear yellow.

How can I whiten my stubborn teeth?

If OTC whitening kits don’t work for you, a professional whitening treatment by a dentist can help you whiten your stubborn teeth.

Can a dentist fix yellow teeth?

Yes, dentists can fix yellow teeth either by whitening treatments or in some cases they might recommend crowns or dental veneers.

What teeth can’t be whitened?

Teeth that have porcelain veneers, crowns or are bonded cannot be whitened.