• Question: Why do your teeth seem to go yellower when you are older?

    Asked by Daisie21 to Carolyn, Peter, Richard, Sara, Siana on 16 Nov 2015. This question was also asked by bethj.
    • Photo: Richard Unwin

      Richard Unwin answered on 16 Nov 2015:

      Hi Daisie.
      Your teeth go yellow for two reasons. This first is that over time they get stained by certain types of food and rink. Smoking is particularly bad for this and lots of smokers have yellow teeth. The second is that, over time, the layer of white enamel on the outside of your teeth gets worn down – by use but it wears quicker when you have lots of sugary drinks or sweets. As it thins, it gets clearer and you start seeing the yellow dentine layer underneath.

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