How To Remove Smoking Stains From Teeth

It’s well known that smoking discolors your teeth and can turn them yellow or brown. It’s the nicotine in the cigarette that turns brown when it comes into contact with oxygen.

This can make a smoker self conscious and feel like they can’t smile due to their decaying teeth. 

Teeth staining is not the only oral problem that can occur due to smoking, tooth decay, halitosis and mouth cancer can be some other very real side effects of smoking.

The good news about your teeth being discolored is that there are many remedies that can make your teeth whiter again. In this article we’ll discuss different teeth whitening options you have to remove those awful smoking stains. 

What Does Smoking Do To Your Teeth?

The main culprit that turns your teeth yellow or brown is the nicotine which is the addictive stimulant found in cigarettes.

Once the nicotine comes into contact with oxygen it turns brown and thus your teeth will become discolored.

The reason why you may only find the edges of your gums and teeth staining is because of the process of inhalation and tooth enamel is more porous on the edges of your teeth. 

Smoking can also cause tooth decay because the chemicals within the cigarette break down the mouth’s natural defense system, for example nicotine reduces the flow of saliva which can cause dry mouth in smokers and this means the saliva isn’t as present as it is in non-smokers mouths. 

Smokers are also more likely to develop gum disease which makes tooth loss inevitable, and the decreased amount of oxygen in the bloodstream makes it a lot harder for your body to fight off infections and effectively heal themself.

What Options Do You Have To Whiten Your Teeth?

There are a few options you have to effectively whiten your teeth and the method you decide on will depend on a few things.

How stained your teeth are, how often you want to whiten them and your financial situation. You also have a choice of getting them done professionally, doing it yourself or pre-bought at home treatments. 

We’ll go through each option so you can decide for yourself which the best method for your teeth is. 

Getting Your Teeth Whitened Professionally

Professionally whitening your teeth is probably the best option if you can afford it. Dentists can dislodge a lot of the staining and if they can’t they can recommend a whitening treatment. 

This is useful for teeth that have been deeply stained from years of smoking, it’s likely that a whitening toothpaste or whitening strips won’t be able to dislodge the stains.

So professional teeth whitening is the best option for severely stained teeth. 

Home Whitening Kits

This is a lot more affordable and can yield good results in a lot of cases. Depending on the severity of the stains, you may not get bright white teeth from these whitening kits, but they can remove a lot of the yellow or brown stains. 

Most whitening kits will use gentle ingredients so your teeth aren’t at risk from any further damage, which makes it perfect for smokers with already decaying teeth. 

Toothpaste Specifically Designed For Smokers

There are a wide range of whitening toothpastes out there which vary in cost.

If you’ve already tried a few of them and see no difference on your teeth then it may be time to try a toothpaste that has been specifically formulated for smokers and whitening stained teeth. 

A lot of them will include fluoride which helps to prevent teeth from decaying and mild abrasives that scrub the teeth.

These shouldn’t be used everyday as these abrasives can eventually wear down the enamel and make your teeth look even more yellow.

Do It Yourself At Home

There are a few alternatives to these methods listed above in regards to doing it yourself at home. 

Baking soda and peroxide can be used as a means to whiten your teeth. It’s recommended to add a few drops of peroxide to the baking soda until a paste is formed and then begin to brush your teeth.

These two products combined whiten your teeth even more, but be careful you don’t add too much of either product as it can become too abrasive and damage your teeth much more.

If your teeth are more severely stained this method may not be too helpful, as they can’t penetrate stains that are deeper in the tooth’s enamel, but this method is seen as one of the more natural ways of whitening your teeth. 

Whitening gels can also be bought from over the counter, these gels will oxidize the stains that are deeper in the tooth such as stains in the cracks and crevices of your teeth, which gives you a better chance of your teeth becoming whiter. 

Veneers 

If no other method works, then veneers may be the best and only option for you if you’re adamant about having white teeth.

Porcelain veneers will drastically change the look of your mouth making it look absolutely perfect and dazzling white.

The biggest downfall of porcelain veneers is that they’re super costly and require a number of visits to the dentist. It’s often very time consuming, so ensure you have the time and money required. 

Final Thoughts

The best way to stop yellow or brown staining of the teeth is obviously to stop smoking altogether, but that’s easier said than done.

If you’re concerned about the discoloring of your teeth or becoming self conscious about it, there are many different methods listed above to try out to see if they can remove stains from your teeth.

Getting your teeth professionally whitened is the best option for severely stained teeth, but it is very costly and you may need a few sessions.

Do it yourself methods are great for teeth that have been lightly stained by smoking, so whichever one you use will depend on how badly your teeth are stained.

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