It is a well-known fact that tobacco use can cause a multitude of health problems. Whether it is smoking cigarettes, chewing on tobacco, smoking cigars or pipes, tobacco use wreaks havoc in your mouth in more ways than one. Aside from having tobacco stains on your teeth, tobacco use can result in bad breath, gum disease, tooth loss and, more seriously mouth cancer. To quit smoking is easier said than done, and it can become less satisfying when the stubborn stains remain on your teeth long after you have kicked the habit.
How Tobacco Stains Teeth
One thing that many current and former smokers have in common is that their teeth have been stained through years of tobacco/nicotine consumption. Nicotine by itself is a colourless substance, but when mixed with oxygen it turns yellow. When tobacco is inhaled or placed in the mouth, nicotine and tar settle into the oral cavity. These substances are able to leach their way into microscopic openings in our enamel, resulting in a yellow/brown discoloration of the tooth surface. Luckily, tobacco stains are extrinsic, meaning that they are on the outer layer of the tooth surface and can be removed.
Removing tobacco stains from teeth
The most obvious way to prevent tobacco stains from occurring is to quit smoking, or never start in the first place. Maintaining a good oral hygiene routine by brushing at least twice a day, flossing each night before brushing and using anantiseptic mouthwash can help to prevent heavy staining and tar build-up, but it will not completely protect your teeth from discoloration caused by tobacco use. If you are unable to brush after each tobacco exposure, rinse thoroughly with water to remove as many harmful substances from your mouth as possible. It is important to visit your dentist for regular check-ups. Your dentist and/or hygienist will do a thorough examination of all your oral tissues to ensure your tobacco use has not caused more serious problems.
There is no shortage of whitening toothpaste and “at home remedies” that claim to remove stains. Although some of these products may work over a long period of time, they are often abrasive and can damage your enamel. Over the counter white strips are only for the front of your teeth and have a hard time getting in between the teeth and along the gumline, making them less desirable for removing heavy tobacco stain. Even with custom teeth whitening trays, the process can take anywhere from one to three months to achieve the desired result and is time consuming, costly and uncomfortable for some.
The most effective and affordable way to remove these stubborn stains is by having them whitening at a professionally Teeth Whitening Clinic. Tobacco stains are more stubborn than most other surface stains, and therefore take a little longer to remove (up-to 2 hour treatment). Although the time frame can seem discouraging, it is important to remember that professional whitening is the safest, most effective way to remove stubborn nicotine stains and the treatment is carried out in just one visit.
Contact iSmile Teeth Whitening Auckland Clinic today 0212095004
Temporary Location 645 SH16, Kumeu, Auckland.
iSmile Teeth Whitening Practitioners are fully qualified and registered members of the New Zealand Cosmetic Teeth Whitening Association (NZCTWA).
Click here to learn more about Professional In Clinic teeth Whitening
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2021
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