Desiring whiter teeth goes beyond skin deep. Researchers have found that a perfect smile has everything to do with landing a dream job and finding Mr. Right. According to a study by an American independent research firm, you’re more likely to be hired after an interview and receive a larger salary offer if your teeth are whiter. Those with whiter teeth also see greater interest from their dates.

Most of us practise good tooth-brushing habits; we brush our teeth conscientiously every morning after we wake up, and no matter how tired we may be, we never forget to brush our teeth before we turn in.

But why is it that we still can’t achieve sparkling pearly whites?

Here are five reasons that are making your teeth look yellow.

1. You’re fuelled by coffee

tired-looking skin

Are you one of those “morning zombies” who can only be woken up with coffee?

Our teeth enamel contains ridges and holes that you cannot see with your naked eyes, and these can trap particles from food and drink. Coffee pigment can be trapped in these pits and leave stains on our teeth. Unfortunately, regular toothbrush may not be able to get rid of these particles thoroughly, and in the long run, the dark colour of coffee stains your teeth permanently.

While coffee is your usual suspect, other dark-coloured beverages such as tea can have the same effect too.

Solution: Cut down your intake of dark-coloured beverages like coffee. Consider other ways of energising yourself such as consuming multivitamins that are meant for boosting your energy levels. Otherwise, consider drinking these beverages through a straw to reduce its contact with your teeth.

2. You love a tipple or two – regularly


Kicking back with white wine can be a nice way to relax after a long, hard day at work. Unlike red wine, white wine doesn’t contain strong pigments, so you may be choosing to drink it over reds thinking that you’ll be helping your teeth – but you may be wrong. Scientists have found that white wine can wear off teeth enamel more quickly than red wine because of their pH level.

As your teeth enamel (outermost layer) gets thinner, the dentin (inside enamel, which is sensitive and yellow) shows through and can give the appearance of yellow teeth. What’s worse, the acidity also cause more microscopic ridges to form on the teeth, making it easier for stains to attach to them.

Solution: If you really need a drink, opt for beer, which is less likely to stain and isn’t as acidic.

3. Your regular toothbrush isn’t good enough


The toothbrush that we know of today is invented in the 1930s and hasn’t seen many significant improvements since. In other words, chances are that you and your grandma have the same tooth-brushing experience using similar tools. While we are already using better tools and equipment for everything else in our lives, why are you still stuck with a regular toothbrush from the last century?

Yes, regular toothbrush helps to do basic cleaning to keep your breath clean and fresh, and to dislodge food particles from easy-to-reach areas. But the problem is that it is not able to efficiently remove plaque from hard-to-reach areas and is not designed to polish your teeth.

Solution: Upgrade your toothbrush to something worthy of a 21st century woman. Use an electronic toothbrush that doesn’t just help clean your teeth, but also whiten them.


Try the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean, which is clinically proven to do a few tasks better than a manual toothbrush:

  • It is clinically proven to whiten teeth in just one week
  • It removes up to seven times more plaque from hard-to-reach areas
  • It improves gum health in only two weeks

The diamond-cut bristles of the toothbrush coupled with the Sonicare technology are the secrets behind why it works better. Its shape and number of bristles help it to reach hard-to-reach areas better, and the Dynamic Cleaning Action powered by the Sonicare technology is able to drive fluid between teeth and along the gum line to give your teeth a thorough cleanse.

The sophisticated Sonicare DiamondClean also features five bespoke brush modes to cater to different brushing needs:

  1. Clean: Standard mode to clean the whole mouth
  2. White: Removes surface stains to achieve whitening effect
  3. Polish: Brightens and polishes teeth to accentuate their natural brilliance
  4. Gum Care: Gently stimulates and massages gums for better dental health
  5. Sensitive: An extra-gentle mode for sensitive teeth

Bonus: You’ll be happy to know that Philips Sonicare DiamondClean has launched a pink edition. It comes with a beautiful glass cup and charging station that will look great in any bathroom.


With an impressive three-week battery life between charges, and equipped with a portable charging case with laptop-ready USB and wall plug, the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Pink Edition is great for both home use and travel.

It is available in all leading Electronic stores (Best Denki, Courts, Harvey Norman); departmental stores (TANGS, Takashimaya, Robinsons) and authorised retailers.

4. You don’t visit a dentist once every six months


You know you need to visit your facial salon regularly to achieve beautiful skin, but most of you don’t remember to call your dentist for an appointment once every six months. Visiting a dental professional for a consultation and cleaning helps your teeth appear whiter. Plaque and tartar build up over time and they appear yellow when they accumulate. (A suggestion: if you live in the Stanislaus County, you can find your Dentist in Modesto to have them removed using the equipment in his/her clinic.)

Solution: Put calendar notifications in your phone to remind yourself to make an appointment. You can also check with your dental clinic if they can give you a call to ask you for an appointment when you’re due for one.

5. You’re tired and stressed


While anxiety doesn’t contribute directly to teeth yellowing, it is one of the reasons why some people grind their teeth when they sleep. This unconscious habit usually happens when to people who are stressed. Tooth grinding is harmful to your teeth enamel because the action weakens it and can cause it to wear off and even crack. A weakened enamel makes your teeth more susceptible to stain and for the dentin, which is yellow, to show through more obviously.

Solution: If you suspect that you grind your teeth, ask a loved one to pay attention to you when you sleep to see if you really do. If you have been feeling anxious, find means to de-stress. It could be to pick up a hobby, go for a vacation, or confide in someone.