One of the effects of smoking is staining on the teeth due to the nicotine and tar in the tobacco. It can make your teeth yellow in a very short time, and heavy smokers often complain that their teeth are almost brown after years of smoking.
Fortunately, these teeth stains are not permanent and can be removed. Your teeth whitening options include at-home treatments, and professional teeth whitening at the dental office. Your teeth, however, will have a lifelong battle with discolouration the more you keep on smoking.
The nicotine and tar from smoking seeps into the tooth's enamel through tiny pores, leaving the teeth discolored. The tar adds a brown tinge to the teeth while the nicotine, when combined with oxygen, causes yellowing.
Using over-the-counter products like whitening toothpaste or mouthwash is another way to help with tooth discoloration. These products contain hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite, which are effective at removing surface-level staining on teeth caused by cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, etc.
Smokers' teeth tend to develop tobacco stains; these may be yellow, brown, dark brown or even black stains, the severity depending partly on duration and frequency of the habit.
Although smoking stains teeth heavily, smokers can whiten their teeth. Life-long smokers with severely stained and damaged teeth also can obtain whiter teeth. The cosmetic dentist Scottsdale can repair or cover all the damage for a smile makeover.
The truth is, yes, your dentist can tell if you have been smoking. Here are some ways that your dentist can tell if you are smoking: Nicotine can stain your teeth – when nicotine mixes with your saliva, it creates yellow or brown stains on your teeth. The more your smoke, the more the stain seems to accumulate.
Brush Twice a Day
Brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste is essential for keeping teeth healthy and white—even when smoking cigarettes. Make sure to brush all surfaces of each tooth thoroughly for at least two minutes each time you brush. It can lead to plaque buildup over time if not removed regularly.
Wisdom Smokers toothpaste has been specially formulated for Smokers. Its Anti-Stain Whitening formula helps prevent and remove stubborn stains to restore natural whiteness, whilst the extra fresh mint flavour freshens breath for fresh breath confidence.
Smoking can impact your oral health. People who smoke are at a higher risk of developing mouth cancer (oral), gum problems, losing teeth, decay on the roots of teeth, and complications after tooth removal and gum and oral surgery.
DIY Teeth Whitening
Mix together one-part baking soda and two parts hydrogen peroxide. Once mixed into a paste, use it to brush your teeth for 3-5 minutes. Do this once daily for 5 days.
As you smoke, plaque begins to build up and bacteria increases. Your gums become inflamed, and you may notice more blood on your toothbrush or in your saliva when you brush your teeth.
Features and Benefits: Helps prevent tooth decay. Helps reduce bad breath.
The good news is that a cosmetic dentist has the power to fix the damage done by smoking. Teeth whitening can be used to improve the appearance of stained teeth, but it may have limited effectiveness if you're a long-time smoker. Instead, porcelain veneers can be used to make your smile as white as you want it.
Smoking while having teeth whitening strips on can also just make the hydrogen peroxide less effective. So the general recommendation is to not smoke while having whitening strips in, and to delay smoking at least by an hour after whitening to allow the teeth to recover.
You may experience swollen, sore, bleeding, red gums for a while. You may have a strange taste in your mouth-almost metallic. You may notice the gums have a strange pigmentation. Your tongue may feel strange also.
Closet smoking includes any secretive smoking behaviour, whether a pack a day or one cigarette a month, says Dr. Peter Selby, chief of the addictions division at Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, a Canadian leader in the area of smoking and addiction.
However, it's important to know that in as little as one week of smoking, your oral health may become noticeably compromised. But negative side effects can occur even after lighting up your first cigarette.
Thankfully, yellow teeth aren't forever. Not only can your teeth be whitened, but you can also adopt habits that keep them looking good. Use this blog to learn about why teeth become yellow, how you can fix them, and what you can do to prevent future discoloration.