Cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and other products with nicotine are known for staining teeth. These products also increase the risk of gum disease, oral cancer and other oral health issues. Whether you’ve recently quit smoking or you’re worried about the stains on your teeth, there are some solutions available for you. Read on to learn how to remove nicotine stains on your smile.
What Causes Smoking Stains on Teeth?
The surface of your teeth has small pores on it, much like the surface of your skin. Nicotine gets trapped in those pores. Even though nicotine is colorless, it turns yellow or brown after exposure to oxygen. Thus any product you consume with nicotine has the potential to stain your teeth. This includes vape juices with nicotine.
In the case of chewing tobacco, saliva combines with the tobacco to form a dark brown liquid. This quickly stains teeth, particularly along the bottom jaw. Some smokers will develop darker stains on certain teeth based on where their cigarettes interact with their smiles. However, most people who use nicotine products experience general discoloration on their smile.
How to Remove Smoking Stains
Nicotine stains are responsive to professional teeth whitening products. At Clinton Dental Center, we offer several in-office teeth whitening programs, as well as take-home teeth whitening kits. The take-home kits gradually whiten teeth with multiple uses. The in-office programs can lighten teeth several shades in a single application.
When you come in for a teeth whitening consultation, we can help you determine which program is right for you. We can also examine your smile as a whole to point out oral health concerns you may need to address. Smoking creates a breeding ground for tooth-decaying bacteria, so it is important to get routine oral exams to protect your teeth.
Long-Term Stain Prevention
The best way to prevent smoking stains, nicotine stains and tobacco stains on teeth is to reduce the use of these products. This will also reduce the risk of gum disease and other side effects of smoking. Additionally, it’s important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss once a day. Visit your dentist once every six months for an oral exam and professional teeth cleaning. Your dentist can recommend personalized solutions to keep your smile healthy and bright.
To schedule an appointment with our dentist office, call (586) 949-5363.
