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Smoking Stains

Simple tips to remove smoking stains from your teeth

By Dr. Nasar Abdul Wadood in Chief Doctor, Align Dental Care

October 19th, 2019


Are you embarrassed to smile because of nicotine stains on your teeth?  Do you want tips to keep your teeth white and bright? Did you know that teeth have pores just like the skin? If you are a smoker, your teeth will be stained and discolored. The pores absorb the nicotine and though it is colorless, it turns yellow due to exposure to oxygen. Even electronic cigarettes with its nicotine steeped ejuice will discolor the teeth. Because of each individual habit of inhaling the smoke, some of the teeth turn darker than the others.

Tobacco and tobacco products affect the enamel of the teeth and causing damage. When tobacco is chewed, it blends with the saliva causing a dark stain. Continuous chewing of tobacco for a long period stains the teeth. Years of smoking causes stains on the teeth penetrating the outer layer of the dentin. But there is good news for people who have stains on the teeth. The smoking stains can be removed with professional teeth whitening.

Tips to Remove Nicotine Stains From Teeth

Smokers often have a darker stain on the gum line and/or around the edges of their teeth. This is because the tartar builds up in the area where the teeth meet. The tartar tends to be more porous than the enamel and absorbs the nicotine stains and the tar in a quick fashion. Normally, people with stains of the teeth do not floss or visit the dentist on a regular basis for dental cleanings. Smoking and tobacco products have negative effect on the gums. The gums begin to draw back or retreat which exposes the root of the tooth. The dentin material which is the same size as the enamel is more porous and stains very quickly.

Here are some tips which will help to remove embarrassing nicotine stains. You can whiten your teeth just before going to bed. This will help to re-mineralize and rehydrate the teeth overnight. People with stains need to brush their teeth without toothpaste as the fluoride deters the whitening gel from penetrating deep into the tooth. It is possible to whiten the teeth from 45 minutes to 3 hours. In some cases, people who experience sensitivity find it difficult to whiten their teeth for a long period. You can whiten the teeth for one hour at first and then check to see if you are comfortable. It is best to whiten the teeth over a period of 3 hours.

Smokers who want to whiten their teeth should clean the whitening tray and should wear them for 20 minutes. The whitening trays should be removed after the stipulated period and the mouth must be rinsed after discarding the excess gel. The teeth must be brushed using baking soda and water every few days. The mouth must be rinsed with diluted baking soda and water and thereafter with water only. Customized home treatments may be done with about 10% carbamide peroxide in a tray which is custom-fit for the teeth and the mouth. Regular visits to the dentist help you to keep your teeth white with professional dental cleanings.

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