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You’ve probably heard “Don’t drink coffee, it’ll stain your teeth!” a number of times in your life. Perhaps it was your parents who wanted to stave off your affinity for caffeine until you were at least 20, or a dentist. While coffee, cola, dark sauces, and some fruits can stain your teeth, there may also be other reasons why your teeth aren’t so dazzling. 
The reason that some of these foods and beverages stain our teeth is because they are high in chromogens, a substance which produces pigment and tends to stick to tooth enamel. Acidic foods and drinks make it even easier for these chromogens to make room and latch onto teeth. If someone drinks wine or tea, they may also be subjecting their teeth to tannin, another substance which helps chromogens stick to teeth and turn them yellow.
If you don’t drink too much soda, coffee, or staining foods, there could be another reason: is your oral hygiene routine not so much of a routine? If you don’t regularly brush, floss, and rinse your mouth, you could be welcoming these substances to get comfortable on your teeth. Do you smoke or chew? Smoking or chewing tobacco is not only a terrible habit that can seriously jeopardize your health, it can also wreck havoc on your teeth, turning them a brownish yellow. Gross.
Some people are born with a naturally thin layer of enamel, which means that the true color of your tooth’s dentin color will come through. Also, aging is another reason why some people might be seeing their teeth changing colors.
Still don’t see a reason why your teeth are yellow? There may be an answer if you are taking medications. Two of the big culprits in children are from the antibiotics, tetracycline and doxycycline. If they were administered before age 8, it could be why their teeth are a discolored. It’s wise to also be cautious of your child’s fluoride intake when they are very young, as too much can cause stains and streaking on the teeth.
For teens and adults, some acne-fighting drugs such as minocycline, a derivative of tetracycline and even gingivitis anstiseptic, chlorhexidane can turn teeth an ugly shade of yellow.
The good news is that there are plenty of professional and take-home whitening kits that can make your smile brighter, fast!
