Brushing your teeth is essential for maintaining good oral hygiene and preventing tooth decay, but it won't whiten your teeth. Even if you brush your teeth twice a day, as recommended by dentists, the color of your teeth may still remain yellow. This is because the color of your teeth is determined by more than just brushing them. If you want to whiten your teeth, you need to take preventive measures and practice good oral hygiene.
Genetics can also influence the color of your teeth. People with more transparent enamel and darker dentin tend to have naturally yellow teeth, and no surface whitening or brushing treatment can change this. To prevent yellowing of your teeth, you should try to eliminate or minimize the number of causes throughout your life. Whitening toothpastes contain mild abrasives that rub away surface stains, but they are not as effective as other treatments.
Studies have shown that high levels of vitamin C in plasma can help maintain tooth health, but more research is needed to determine how much it can help whiten teeth. Coconut oil extraction is said to remove plaque and bacteria from the mouth, which can help whiten teeth, but more scientific evidence is needed to investigate its effectiveness. Activated charcoal is another option for whitening teeth, but it should be used with caution if you have sensitive teeth or want to limit its abrasiveness. Dead teeth have a different physical appearance than healthy teeth because the blood supply is cut off once they die.
If your dentin is naturally darker, no basic surface whitening or tooth brushing treatment will make your teeth perfectly white.