What do you see when you smile at yourself in the mirror? If all you can focus on is your single yellow tooth, don’t fret about it. There are many ways to fix this common problem. Let’s go over a few of them and figure out which one is right for you.
Over-the-Counter Whitening Treatments
Over-the-counter (OTC) whitening products like Crest Whitestrips offer a quick, convenient, and affordable way to whiten your teeth. These treatments use low-strength bleaching agents to loosen the surface stains on your teeth and make them look several shades whiter.
However, theeffectiveness of these products is limited. They can’t get rid of very dark stains, and their one-size-fits-all approach makes it difficult to use them to target just one yellow tooth.
In-Office Whitening Treatments
If OTC whitening treatments aren’t powerful enough to achieve the shade of white you’re hoping for, in-office whitening treatments might be. These treatments are only available through your dentist and are far stronger than anything you’ll find at your local drug store.
In-office whitening usually takes around an hour to complete. It’s more expensive than OTC whitening, but it produces more dramatic results. These treatments can also be targeted to specific teeth, making it easier to whiten your single yellow tooth without bleaching the rest.
Veneers
Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or dental compositethat are attached to the front of your teeth. These enhancements cover up any discolouration(even intrinsic stains from injuries or medications!)and candisguise damage like craze linesand chips.
You can get a veneer installed on just your yellow tooth or get a full set for all of your front teeth. They’re more expensive than in-office whitening treatments, but they’lllast you many years with proper care.
A Crown
If your yellow tooth is cracked or has a large filling in it, your dentist can cover it with a crown instead. Dental crowns cover the whole tooth instead of just the front, giving the tooth more protection from powerful chewing forces.
A well-made porcelain crown looks just as beautiful as any set of veneers and will usually last longer too. They’re more expensive than veneers, though, and they also require more tooth structure to be removed to accommodate them.
Keeping Your Teeth White
No matter which solution you choose to go with, you’ll need to be careful not to stain your newly whitened tooth all over again.
- Avoid consuming dark-coloured food and drink like wine, coffee, tea, blueberries, and curry. If you drink any of these liquids, use a straw to minimize the amount of time they make contact with your teeth.
- Don’t use dental products with stannous fluoride in them. This compound can stain your teeth. Products with sodium fluoride in them offer the same cavity-fighting benefits without the risk of stains.
- Visit your dentist regularly cleanings and check-ups. Cleanings remove tartar and built-up surface stains while check-ups catch tooth decay before it can visibly discolour your teeth.
Get Professional Help for That Stubborn Tooth
Your yellow tooth doesn’t have to stick out like a sore thumb. Coscarella Family Dentistry can help you achieve the uniform white smile you’re looking for. Contact us today to book an appointment and discuss your options.
FAQs
Yellow teeth can regain whiteness through various methods, including good oral hygiene, professional dental cleanings, and teeth-whitening treatments. Stains from coffee, tea, or tobacco can be removed with adequate oral care, while professional procedures like bleaching or laser treatments offer quicker results.
Can you whiten one yellow tooth? ›
In-office whitening usually takes around an hour to complete. It's more expensive than OTC whitening, but it produces more dramatic results. These treatments can also be targeted to specific teeth, making it easier to whiten your single yellow tooth without bleaching the rest.
Can yellow teeth go back to white? ›
You can turn your yellow teeth into white teeth, although how white depends on the extent of the stain and the treatment used. The best course of treatment to get whiter teeth is to seek a professional whitening treatment from your dentist.
Why is one of my teeth yellow and the rest are white? ›
Exposure to certain environmental factors — like some foods and beverages — causes extrinsically discolored teeth. Intrinsic discoloration: This type of discoloration starts inside your tooth and affects your dentin (the layer underneath your enamel). Causes include dental trauma and certain medications.
How do you clean one yellow tooth? ›
Using a paste made of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide is said to remove plaque buildup and bacteria to get rid of stains. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after brushing with this paste.
Can I whiten just one tooth? ›
Diagnosing a Discolored Tooth
If the tooth is still vital, external bleaching can often yield satisfactory results — even if it's just one tooth that needs to be whitened.
How to make yellow teeth white in one day? ›
10 Ways to Whiten Teeth in a Day and Keep Healthy Gums
- Brush with Baking Soda. ...
- Use Hydrogen Peroxide. ...
- Activated Charcoal. ...
- Powdered milk and toothpaste. ...
- Coconut Oil Pulling with Baking soda. ...
- Essential Oils Whitening Toothpaste. ...
- Turmeric Whitening Toothpaste. ...
- Baking Soda and Strawberry Paste.
The UV light is said to activate the peroxide and expedite the whitening process. If you use this every day, you can see results within 10-14 days. Whitening toothpaste contains enzymes that eliminate stains while brushing your teeth. If you do this twice a day, results can range anywhere from two to six weeks.
How do dentists fix yellow teeth? ›
Once teeth have become yellow, there are only two major options: Teeth whitening, or dental veneers.
How to fix one discolored tooth at home? ›
The patient should use 10% carbamide peroxide (CP) gel nightly for one – four weeks on the discoloured tooth. A reassessment with the dentist should be planned of the tooth colour.
A dead tooth can remain inside the mouth for several days, weeks, months, or even years. The exact time depends upon the extent of the damage. However, keeping a dead tooth for a long time can have a major impact on oral health.
Why is one of my teeth permanently yellow? ›
Poor Oral Hygiene: Poor oral hygiene is one of the causes of yellow teeth, but even the most diligent brushers and flossers can develop the discolored teeth that occur simply with age. Fluoride: Excessive fluoride exposure is also among the causes of stained teeth, especially in children.
Can a yellow tooth turn white again? ›
Whitening Yellow Teeth
Discolourations are generally responsive to bleaching procedures, and dentists can advise on how to whiten yellow teeth, depending on your case. Your dentist can provide bleaching kits to take home and use over a period of time, as well as in-office bleaching procedures.
Can salt water remove yellow teeth? ›
Salt is a natural antiseptic and abrasive. These qualities make it a great candidate for whitening yellow teeth by cleaning the surface. Avoid using salt for teeth whitening if the enamel of your teeth is damaged as the salt will erode the enamel further.
How to get rid of yellow teeth overnight? ›
No treatment can whiten teeth overnight, but some options are faster than others. Natural or over-the-counter treatment may take longer than treatments at the dentist's office. Even in the latter case, whitening is likely to require several treatment sessions of several hours each.
Why does one tooth have a yellow spot? ›
A small white or yellow stain on a singular tooth is usually caused from local trauma to the developing tooth. Trauma or infection of a baby tooth can affect the permanent tooth that is developing in the gums under the baby tooth. The result may not be seen until the permanent tooth erupts many years later.
Why do I have one tooth that won't whiten? ›
Tooth enamel is semi transparent while dentin, which is the material beneath the enamel, can be white, gray, or even yellowish. The dentine's natural color cannot be altered. In the event your dentine has a natural yellow or gray tint you will be unable to make your teeth whiter.
Will a bruised tooth turn white again? ›
When a tooth experiences trauma it can become discoloured if the dentin becomes stained with blood (i.e. a tooth bruise). In some cases, the colour change will disappear in time but for others it remains.
Do whitening strips work on yellow teeth? ›
Whitening strips target both extrinsic and intrinsic stains
Yellowish aging stains also respond well. Whitening strips may be best used when you're trying to make a small touch-up to your tooth color. For more significant changes, you may want to consider professional whitening from a dentist.
