Quit Smoking For White Teeth

Nicotine present in cigarettes causes your teeth to stain and discolour. The issue is a bit deeper than that because smoking also reduces the flow of blood to your gums and your teeth.

Oral cancer has been linked to long-term smoking. The risk of oral cancer in smokers is almost 10 times more than in people who don’t smoke!

Oral health should always be a priority, and it’s not to be neglected no matter how old you are. As you know, oral health can directly affect your overall health and life quality.

Numerous factors can affect a person’s oral health and lead to problematic health issues; smoking is one.

There is no denying the fact that smoking can have many harmful effects on your body. Accompanied by poor oral hygiene, smoking can negatively impact your general and oral health and cause many unnecessary consequences.

Nicotine present in cigarettes causes your teeth to stain and discolour. The issue is a bit deeper than that because smoking also reduces the flow of blood to your gums and your teeth.

Oral cancer has been linked to long-term smoking. The risk of oral cancer in smokers is almost 10 times more than in people who don’t smoke!

Unfortunately, harmful chemicals in cigarettes put smokers at a high risk of developing various sorts of dental problems, including:

• Gum disease
• Oral cancer
• Tooth loss (followed mainly by gum disease)
• Tooth decay
• Dry socket
• Bad breath
• Tooth discolouration
• Less oxygen supply to the gums
• There is a high risk of plaque and tartar buildup on the tooth
• There is a lower chance of having a successful dental implant procedure
• The longer healing process after some dental work like tooth extraction and gum surgery

Nicotine present in cigarettes causes your teeth to stain and discolour. The issue is a bit deeper than that because smoking also reduces the flow of blood to your gums and your teeth.

Oral cancer has been linked to long-term smoking. The risk of oral cancer in smokers is almost 10 times more that in people who don’t smoke!

Smokers are more susceptible to developing gum disease. Smoking will increase the risk of producing bacterial plaque, a sticky, colourless film that grows on the teeth every day and contains countless bacteria.

Periodontal disease is defined as the infection and inflammation of the gums caused by plaque buildup under your gums.

Buildup plaque can cause the tissues holding your teeth in place to get infected.

Note: Early signs of gum disease should be addressed immediately because gums health can be restored easier at this stage, called “gingivitis.”

Note: In severe stages of periodontal disease, referred to as “periodontitis,” infected gums will not be able to hold the teeth in place, and patients may experience tooth loss.

If you’re a smoker and have some or all of the symptoms associated with gum disease, consider quitting and seeking urgent oral care.

By interfering with the blood flow to the gums and the normal functioning of your gum tissue cells, smoking will eventually weaken your immune system and make it hard for your body to fight the infection. As a result, you will be left with gums that are now more prone to disease and poor oral health.

Besides, smoking will cause you to experience a delayed healing process from various dental treatments or dental surgical procedures.

As mentioned before, smokers are more susceptible to oral diseases like periodontal disease. Therefore, if you smoke and see the following signs, visit a paediatric dentist or dentist in Brisbane as soon as you can to seek oral care:

• Red and swollen gums
• Bad taste and bad breath
• Tender and bleeding gums
• Sensitive or loose teeth
• Experiencing pain while chewing (pain with bite pressure)
• Gums that are not firm enough and feel loose

Regular dental checkups, maintaining proper oral hygiene, removing dental plaque from the teeth, and quitting smoking will significantly improve your oral and overall health.

Contact us today on 07 3343 4869 if you need advice on how to maintain good oral hygiene.

Having a beautiful white set of teeth can boost your confidence and make you feel more comfortable smiling in your daily interactions. However, some things can compromise the brilliance of your smile by giving your teeth a yellowish shade.

Tobacco use can stain your teeth and make those pearly whites less shiny. Smoking is one of the leading causes of tooth discolouration that will change the colour of your teeth in no time and leave you with a less bright set of teeth.

The tiny pores in your teeth will absorb the nicotine and tar in tobacco, making the teeth yellow or brownish due to combining with oxygen.

The number of times you smoke per day will also affect how discoloured your teeth will become.

Although long-term smoking has made it challenging to have tobacco stains removed from teeth, there are still ways to try and achieve acceptable results.

Whitening Options

To make your teeth whiter and remove those yellowish stains, you can consider professional teeth whitening, at-home treatments, or over-the-counter (OTC) teeth whitening products.

Professional Teeth Whitening Brisbane

When the tobacco stains have penetrated deep into layers of dentin, whitening toothpaste or DIY (do-it-yourself) remedies will no longer work, and seeking professional teeth whitening is essential.

The procedure in the office

After examining your teeth thoroughly and ensuring that the procedure is suitable for you, your dentist or oral hygienist will start the process by determining your desired final shade.

Teeth whitening might not be suitable for those with tooth sensitivity or thin or transparent teeth.

1. Your oral hygienist will place a cheek retractor into your mouth during the procedure, which exposes all visible teeth when you smile.
2. Then a special protective resin or gel will be applied over your gums to protect them from burning caused by peroxide (the bleaching gel).
3. The dentist will apply the bleaching gel to your teeth and leave it for about thirty minutes.
4. Laser light is usually used to speed up the process.
5. The oral hygienist will then remove the previous bleaching gel and apply fresh gel and leave it again for another thirty minutes.
6.  After the protective guard is removed, you should rinse and see the result of whitening.

Your dentist may give you a custom take-home tray to use as a follow-up treatment to your professional teeth whitening session.

Keep in mind that teeth whitening is not permanent, and your teeth are still in danger of getting discoloured if you continue smoking.

At-Home-Treatments

At-home teeth whitening options are also available for those who prefer to use more convenient ways to restore their teeth’ colour.

Professional take-home whitening kit

Tray-based tooth whitening kits come in two types: one-size-fits-all store-bought kits and custom-fitted.

Custom-fitted take-home whitening kit

1. Your dentist will take impressions of your upper and lower teeth for a custom-fabricated tray.
2. The impression will be sent to a dental lab to fabricate custom-made whitening mouth trays.
3. After your custom-fitted mouth tray is prepared, you will come to the office, and your dentist will give you a carbamide peroxide-based gel rather than a hydrogen peroxide-based bleaching gel or paste to place in the tray.
4. You will receive the necessary instructions on applying the solution on the tray to get the result.
5. Your dentist may ask you to wear the mouth tray for one to several hours a day for up to 28 days.

Although you will need to be more patient to get your desired result with carbamide peroxide-based gel compared to a hydrogen peroxide-based gel, it will cause less sensitivity for your gums or tongue.

Over-the-counter teeth whitening trays in Brisbane

Over-the-counter trays will also help you with your discoloured teeth; however, they may not be as effective and convenient as custom trays.

As the name suggests, OTC trays may not fit perfectly over your teeth because they are not specially made for you.

OTC Teeth Whitening Products

Not all people can go through professional teeth whitening due to various reasons. Whitening gels and toothpaste are easy, convenient ways to experience brighter teeth.

Tooth whitening strips and gels

Whitening strips are particular types of strips mostly made out of a standard plastic called “polyethylene.” These strips contain a thin layer of hydrogen peroxide gel or carbamide peroxide.

Just place the strip over your teeth and leave it for several minutes so the gel can penetrate your teeth and start whitening them.

Whitening strips are not recommended for smokers.

Chances are your teeth do not get evenly whitened if they are not perfectly straight.

Tooth whitening toothpaste

Although whitening toothpaste can offer you a brighter set of teeth by removing surface stains, they are considered abrasive and may damage your teeth’ enamel by making them thin.

You are strongly advised to talk to your dental expert before going for any whitening method, as your way of whitening may do more than good to your teeth.

Any form of tobacco use can be extremely harmful to your well-being. Although you have already hurt your body by smoking, you can consider giving up smoking and witnessing your health’s improvement.

Remember, it’s never too late to create a healthy lifestyle for yourself and your loved ones.

Here are some advantages of quitting smoking that can encourage you to start today.

By quitting smoking and starting a healthier lifestyle, you will:

1. Reduce the risk of cancer,
2. Reduce the risk of oral health diseases,
3. Reduce your risk of getting a heart attack,
4. Reduce your blood pressure that is another leading cause of death,
5. Have thinner blood, so your heart will work easier to carry around the blood in your body,
6. Have a lowered level of cholesterol in your blood,
7. Improve your lungs’ function,
8. Have reduced risk of diabetes, which is another serious health concern,
9. Improve your night vision and your overall vision will be better,
10. Enjoy a brighter smile and a whiter set of teeth,
11. Have a fresher and more pleasant breath,
12. By trying to break the addiction cycle, you can rewire your brain’s craving for nicotine,

We can go on and on about the numerous benefits of quitting smoking, so don’t wait till tomorrow! You can get a professional consultation about effective and practical ways of quitting smoking if you think it may be hard for you alone to kick this habit.