How to Whiten Yellow Teeth

Woman’s mouth shows the difference in tooth color after a whitening procedure

How to get the teeth white is a common concern for many. Learn what causes yellow teeth and discover effective whitening strategies so you can learn how to minimize sensitivity while whitening yellow teeth.

Key Takeaways

  • Knowing whether you have intrinsic or extrinsic staining can dictate your course of action.1,2
  • Chemical whitening with peroxide or carbamide peroxide can happen in a professional dental setting or in your own home and may involve trays and whitening gel.1,2
  • Those concerned with sensitivity may choose to whiten yellow teeth by employing good oral hygiene and using a whitening toothpaste like Sensodyne Clinical White.2,4

Two Types of Tooth Stains: What Causes Yellow Teeth?

Two kinds of staining can lead to stained, yellow teeth:1

  • Extrinsic staining
  • Intrinsic staining

Teeth stains may be caused by lots of things and can occur on the outside and inside of the tooth.1,2 Understanding the differences is key to choosing the appropriate whitening mechanism.

Extrinsic Tooth Yellowing

Extrinsic staining effects the enamel, the hard outside surface, of the teeth. It occurs over time from exposure to food, drink and other substances that stain teeth:1,2

  • Coffee, tea and dark soft drinks
  • Red wine
  • Highly pigmented foods like dark fruits and vegetables
  • Tobacco use (both chewing and smoking)

Extrinsic stains can also occur due to poor oral hygiene.2

Intrinsic Tooth Staining

Intrinsic staining happens within your enamel or under your enamel in the tooth’s dentin.2 Intrinsic stains can be caused by:1,2

  • Aging
  • Childhood antibiotic use
  • Genetic disorders
  • Exposure to too much fluoride
  • Cavities
  • Amalgam tooth fillings

How to Whiten Teeth: Mechanisms

  • Chemical whitening works through reactions that lighten enamel color or penetrate deeper to affect the tooth’s internal structure.2 Whether applied as a dental strip or a tray-supported gel, chemical whitening is typically achieved through the use of carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide.1,2
  • Mechanical whitening methods include brushing with whitening toothpastes that include whitening agents and surfactants that to lift and polish away surface stains.2

Extrinsic stains respond to both kinds of whitening intervention, but intrinsic tooth yellowing only responds to chemical whitening interventions that utilize carbamide or hydrogen peroxide.2

Choose How to Whiten Yellow Teeth

There are a few different options for those who wonder how to get their teeth white:

Over-the-counter Tooth Whitening Options

Over-the-counter whitening options can work for whitening intrinsic or extrinsic tooth staining:

  • Whitening toothpaste is appropriate for extrinsic stains if it includes an abrasive system or bleaching agent to help scrub the teeth clean and lighten their color. Unfortunately, some whitening toothpastes contain peroxide, which may trigger tooth sensitivity.3 Luckily, for those who experience sensitivity, Sensodyne Clinical White includes clinically proven whitening technology specially designed for sensitive teeth. Its formula removes stains, polishes teeth and prevents new stains from forming to lighten teeth two shades whiter.*
  • Whitening strips or pens work through the application of a whitening gel directly to the teeth.1,2
  • Over-the-counter whitening kits may come with dental trays and whitening gels.2

While over-the-counter whitening options are generally safe, it’s important to consider how a whitening kit may exacerbate tooth sensitivity. If sensitivity is a concern, it may be more appropriate to consult your dentist about which options are appropriate for reaching your tooth whitening goals.

Dentist Provided or Administered Tooth Whitening Options

If your stains are intrinsic, you have better results by working with your dentist to get your teeth white. Your dentist may offer different options:

  • Take-home whitening interventions provided by your dentist will likely come in the form of dental trays that are filled with whitening gel and worn for a set number of hours and days/weeks.1
  • In-office whitening procedures are a powerful, supervised option and may include the addition of UV light to speed up the gel whitening process.

How to Whiten Teeth at Home

Want to get the teeth white in the gentlest way possible? Improve your oral hygiene:4

  • Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste.
  • Clean between your teeth daily with floss or another interdental cleaner.
  • Replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months.
  • Limit snacking between meals and avoid food and drinks with dark colors that will stain your teeth.

Sensodyne has a range of whitening toothpastes for sensitive teeth:

Whitening teeth stains is possible, even for those with sensitive teeth. The key is understanding what kind of stain you’re trying to remove.

*As shown in an 8-week study
**With twice daily brushing

FAQs

What kind of over-the-counter whitening options are there?

People who want to whiten their teeth can purchase toothpastes, whitening strips, gels, rinses, gums and paint on films.1,2

Can whitening products make sensitive teeth worse?

Yes. The peroxide contained in many whitening products may lead to sensitive teeth and irritated gums.1 The concentration of the peroxide in the product may determine the extent of the adverse effects.1

How long does it take to see results from using a whitening toothpaste?

Individual results may vary based on personal habits and the type of toothpaste used, but an 8-week study showed that twice-daily brushing with Sensodyne Clinical White toothpastes can lead to 2 shades whiter teeth.

Source Citations:

  1. Getting whiter teeth. Journal of the American Dental Association. https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(20)30534-1/fulltext. Accessed 8/13/2025.
  2. Whitening. American Dental Association. https://www.ada.org/resources/research/science-and-research-institute/oral-health-topics/whitening. Accessed 8/13/2025.
  3. Comparison between the effect of commercially available chemical teeth whitening paste and teeth whitening paste containing ingredients of herbal origin on human enamel. AYU Journal. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6369603/. Accessed 8/13/2025.
  4. Oral Health. MouthHealthy by ADA. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/oral-health. Accessed 8/13/2025.