Nicotine and tobacco products can leave you with unwanteddiscoloration, including yellowing and brown spots on the teeth. This discoloration is caused by particles that get stuck in the tiny pores in the enamel of your teeth.
If you are a long-term smoker or tobacco user in some other capacity, the stains on your teeth may be darker or more difficult to remove, but it is not impossible, especially if you have a teeth whitening kit such as our #1 extreme whitening kit.
These tips can help you lessen or completely eliminate your unwanted stains.
Methods Using Household Products
Oil Pulling
Oil pulling involves swishing oil around your mouth in order to get rid of bacteria, and it is an old traditional Indian remedy. This is most commonly done with coconut oil, and it can sweep away the bacteria in your mouth and dissolve it, which in turn helps improve your oral hygiene by preventing gingivitis, bad breath, and gum inflammation. Oil pulling has also been said to help whiten teeth through this process of bacteria removal, so it may be a good option for you.
The Baking Soda Method
Yes, you read that right. Baking soda can be a huge help when it comes to removing stains from your teeth and restoring them to their shiny white color. To use the baking soda method, you should brush your teeth with a mixture of baking soda and water every few days. This method is perfectly safe for long term use until you achieve your desired results, and it doesn’t hurt that baking soda is something you probably already have on hand or in a cabinet. Just be sure not to brush too hard, as baking soda itself is already abrasive.
Hydrogen Peroxide
You can also use hydrogen peroxide to fight discoloration. With this method, you should rinse your mouth with a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution once a day or once every few days, depending on the extent of your stains. After rinsing with the hydrogen peroxide, you should rinse out your mouth again just with water to flush out any of the solution that might still be in your mouth.
You can also use hydrogen peroxide incombination with baking soda for better results -- to do this, mix baking soda with a few drops of hydrogen peroxide until it becomes a paste, and use this to brush your teeth.
When using hydrogen peroxide to whiten your teeth, you should be cautious about how strong the solution is before rinsing with it and be careful to not overdo it if you are making the paste as well. Using a solution that is too concentrated could end up damaging your teeth because it will be too abrasive.
The best method of using a hydrogen peroxide paste is to gently rub the paste onto your teeth for 30 seconds and then rinse it away so as to avoid damaging your enamel.
Professional Teeth Whitening Procedures
If you are looking for the longest-lasting results, a trip to the dentist will likely be the best choice for you. You can choose to get an in-office whitening procedure done, for example, which generally involves your teeth being painted with a peroxide solution and then exposed to strong light. This process can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour.
Another option is to visit your dentist to have a custom tray containing carbamide peroxide fit to your mouth. These trays allow you to carry out whitening procedures at home by inserting the product into your mouth and wearing it for a certain amount of time. In-office teeth whitening can last up to three years, or up to one year for more extensive stains or patients who continue stain-inducing behaviors following the procedure.
Having routine teeth cleaning procedures done at your dentist’s office is also a big part of fixing discoloration. That being said, if you have not had a regular cleaning done in a while, it is probably time to head on over. Having your teeth cleaned professionally allows particles and stains to be more thoroughly cleaned out, and can make a big difference especially if your stains are more minor.
Over-the-Counter Products
Over-the-counter teeth whitening products are the most popular method of teeth whitening because of the convenience they offer. These products are available at more pharmacies and drugstores, and some are even available online.
Over-the-counter products can come in several forms, including gel, toothpaste, mouthwash, whitening strips, or bleaches that are applied using trays. These products can actually be quite effective at removing teeth stains, but the results might not last as long as professional procedures.
It is important to keep in mind that certain products, specifically gels and bleaches, have been known to cause teeth sensitivity after use, so if this is an unwanted side effect, you should choose wisely. Some products also contain harmful ingredients, such as parabens and sulfates, that can take a toll on your health if used long-term.
If you do opt for a product that may not have the best effects long-term, be aware of this and make sure you use the product sparingly to avoid negative consequences as much as possible. Overusing strong products can damage your teeth and cause intense tooth sensitivity to hot and cold.
If this sounds like a high risk for low reward, we understand and we have you covered.
OurExtreme Whitening Kit contains everything you need and none of the harmful ingredients commonly found in other products. Our kit contains whitening mouthwash, toothpaste, a pre-filled tray and LED light, whitening syringes, whitening pens, and a whitening shade guide.
With natural ingredients like aloe leaf juice and peppermint oil, our teeth whitening regimen lets you get the bright white smile you desire without the sensitivity and health concerns that usually come afterward.
If this all sounds overwhelming, that’s okay, too. Start with one, simple product, like just mouthwash or just a pen.
OurExtreme Whitening Mouthwash andExtreme Whitening Pen are both cruelty-free, gluten-free, and free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, making them a great place to start if you have yet to embark on the teeth whitening journey.
These products are formulated to help prevent the teeth sensitivity that many store-bought products cause, so you can whiten your teeth without having to avoid hot or cold food and drinks afterward.
Keep in mind that the best method for you, and the longevity of the results from that method, depends on several factors. The severity of your stains, desired frequency of whitening, and desired cost all weigh in when choosing a method. Additionally, your lifestyle and routines play a part in determining how long the results will last. For example, a heavy smoker who continues as such after a whitening procedure will likely see their results start to fade faster than someone who smokes less frequently.
Maintaining good oral hygiene, in general, can also help keep your teeth whiter for longer by helping to prevent stains in the first place. Brushing your teeth immediately after smoking when possible, for example, is a great way to help stop discoloration before it starts. Additionally, you should aim to brush your teeth and use mouthwash twice a day, and floss at least once a day. These habits help make sure that particles that get stuck in your teeth, which are the most common culprits of stains, are removed.
Takeaway
Smoking can cause yellowing of your teeth over time, and you may even end up with brown spots in your enamel. If this is something you are dealing with, not to fear, there are a few ways that you can reduce discoloration and restore the whiteness of your teeth.
Methods that involve household products include brushing with baking soda, making a baking soda and hydrogen peroxide paste, and oil pulling using coconut oil.
For better results, you can choose from a variety of store-bought products ranging from gels to trays, but be sure to stay mindful of the teeth sensitivity that these can cause. Additionally, store-bought products tend not to last as long as professional whitening procedures, but they can be great for a quick, temporary fix.
Going to your dentist is likely the best way to go about whitening your teeth, and you can either have a whitening procedure done in-office or have a tray custom fit to your teeth so that you can use it at home.
Regardless of which method you choose, the results will not be permanent, but they can last you a while. Brushing your teeth immediately after smoking is a great way to prevent stains from occurring in the first place, and keeping this in mind after whitening your teeth can make the whiteness of your teeth last longer.
FAQs
1. Can tobacco stains be removed from teeth?
Due to the years of smoking, tobacco stains on teeth can be difficult to remove. The stains penetrate deep into the enamel and often reach the dentin's outer layer. Fortunately, these stains are not permanent and can be removed by expert teeth whitening.
2. What is the best toothpaste to remove tobacco stains?
You may want to explore a smokers' toothpaste if you find that normal whitening toothpaste does not do much for your smoking-stained teeth. With our Extreme Whitening Kit, you get everything you need and none of the potentially dangerous substances found in other products. Whitening mouthwash, toothpaste, a pre-filled tray with an LED light, whitening syringes, whitening pens, and a shade guide for whitening are included in our set.
3. Does baking soda remove nicotine stains?
To remove stubborn stains, dampen a cloth and dip it into baking soda. Remove any remaining stains with a clean cloth, rinse, and dry with a clean cloth.
4. Will vinegar remove nicotine stains?
Using pure vinegar is an effective way of removing nicotine residue stains, since acetic acid breaks down the stain and eliminates the musty smell at the same time.
5. Does bleach remove nicotine stains?
The solution is effective in removing cigarette stains. Yellow nicotine stains can also be removed from your fingertips using a diluted bleach and water solution. To make this solution, combine 1 part bleach with 4 parts water in a glass bottle. Before rinsing, let it sit on your fingertips for a few minutes.
6. How do smokers keep their teeth white?
To get rid of any food or plaque on the teeth, it's crucial to brush and floss every morning and night. Twice-daily brushing and flossing can also keep teeth looking white and improve breath. Make sure you brush for two minutes or more each time.
7. Does smoke toothpaste work?
You won't be able to maintain your teeth white for very long using over-the-counter items like toothpastes or whitening strips because tobacco deeply stains every tooth in the mouth. Because of this, smokers frequently seek out the expertise of dentists.
8. Do your teeth get whiter after quitting smoking?
Your teeth have become stained over time due to the nicotine and tar in cigarettes and other tobacco products. Even while quitting smoking should keep them from getting worse, without a little assistance from your neighborhood dentists, their color is unlikely to change.
Sources:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321480#causes
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/oil-pulling-coconut-oil
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-remove-nicotine-stains-from-teeth#at-home-options
