Why would a tooth come in with a yellow tint instead of white?!


Question: The dentin of teeth is yellowish, brownish, grayish, or orangish... as their base shades. These shades vary in intensity (just like hair color). Enamel is milky clear and picks up the color from the underlying color. Baby teeth are very white due to the way the light is reflected. Then the adult teeth come in and the yellow happens. How much color is largely due to genetics in someone's younger years. With age (thickening the dentin), staining foods, and thinning enamel, teeth begin to darken. Bleaches bubble oxygen (a natural bleach), into the tooth and helps to lighten the dentin.


Answers: The dentin of teeth is yellowish, brownish, grayish, or orangish... as their base shades. These shades vary in intensity (just like hair color). Enamel is milky clear and picks up the color from the underlying color. Baby teeth are very white due to the way the light is reflected. Then the adult teeth come in and the yellow happens. How much color is largely due to genetics in someone's younger years. With age (thickening the dentin), staining foods, and thinning enamel, teeth begin to darken. Bleaches bubble oxygen (a natural bleach), into the tooth and helps to lighten the dentin.

Certain medications can discolor your teeth.

no enamel on the tooth

There's a big difference in the thickness of enamel in baby teeth versus permanent teeth. The permanent teeth have much thinner enamel. You're also probably noting the lower front teeth coming in ... these teeth have some of the thinnest enamel of all!

Remember that no tooth is naturally white, and the contrast between the baby teeth and permanent teeth is temporary ... the baby teeth will all fall out!





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