The nicotine in your cigarettes affects not just your lungs but also your teeth and gums. Just like your skin, the teeth have pores, which absorb stains from the foods and beverages you consume and all the cigarettes you smoke. Now, if you have these stains, you’re probably thinking, “How do I remove the nicotine stains from my teeth?”
Thankfully, we have a solution.
How Is Nicotine Staining My Teeth?
Now before we get into how you can remove nicotine stains from your teeth, we need to understand why your teeth are stained in the first place.
As we mentioned, teeth contain pores that constantly absorb stains. While nicotine on its own is colorless, it turns yellow when combined with oxygen. This is why your teeth become discolored over time.
The longer you smoke, the stains also turn brown. At this point, simply brushing and flossing isn’t enough to remove the stains from the teeth.
Removing Nicotine Stains From My Teeth
The chosen method of stain removal depends on –
- the severity of stains
- your budget
- the frequency of treatment
Home Remedies to Remove Nicotine Stains
If you are on a tight budget or have minimal discoloration, you can try the following do-it-yourself remedies at home.
Using Natural Teeth Whiteners
- Strawberries have malic acid and ascorbic acid, both of which lighten stains. Mash 1 strawberry and mix it with 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Apply the mixture to your teeth for a few minutes, rinse it off, and follow it with brushing normally.
- Guava leaves contain ingredients that remove the oxidative stress caused by different stain-causing bacteria. Make a paste by crushing 1-2 guava leaves and leave them on your teeth for a couple of minutes. Brush with your toothpaste after removing the paste.
- Orange peels whiten teeth and also acts as an antimicrobial agent. Rub the inside of an orange peel on your teeth for one or two minutes and rinse it off. Follow it with regular brushing with your toothpaste.
- Brushing with baking soda and peroxide also removes stains. This is the most common DIY remedy that is recommended to remove stains from teeth. Take one tablespoon of baking soda and two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide. Mix to form a paste and brush your teeth with it. Don’t use it more than twice or thrice a week since the chemicals can cause teeth sensitivity.
Over-The-Counter Teeth Whitening Options
Visit your local grocery store, and you’ll find numerous options stacked in the oral care aisle. You will see whitening toothpaste, strips, oral rinses, etc. While these are pretty good options for whitening your teeth, older nicotine stains are much more challenging and will require professional help to remove them.
Whitening kits have also become popular in this day and age. However, before you decide to test out a kit, consult your dentist.
This is to ensure that the OTC whitening treatment will not cause new dental conditions, worsen any existing ones, or interfere with your current dental treatments.
Professional Teeth Whitening To Remove Nicotine Stains from Teeth
To remove tough stains from teeth, professional whitening treatments are the key. There are two types of teeth whitening treatments that your dentist provides –
- In-office whitening
- Take-home kits
In-Office Teeth Whitening Treatments
Teeth whitening done by a dental professional provides fast and effective results. Over-the-counter whitening options and home remedies take weeks to work. On the other hand, in-office procedures take about 45 minutes, and you can notice the difference after just one visit.
Your dentist might also recommend teeth cleaning sessions to remove plaque and calculus from the teeth surfaces. As whitening removes stains from the teeth, they look, feel, and are much healthier.
Take-Home Kits for Teeth Whitening
As the name suggests, the take-home kits are teeth whitening treatments you use at home. These are provided by a dentist, along with specific instructions on how to use them.
When you visit your dentist, they will take impressions of your teeth and get a customized mouthpiece tray made for you. This allows for maximum contact between the whitening gel and your teeth.
Take-home kits contain lower-strength bleaching agents, making them safer for your teeth. Your dentist might also prescribe treatments to strengthen the enamel before whitening.
What Else Can I Do To Remove Nicotine Stains From My Teeth?
There are many steps you can take to prevent nicotine stains from forming on the teeth. Some of them are –
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
It’s no surprise that oral hygiene ranks at the top of this list. Brushing twice a day, flossing regularly, and using mouthwash to prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar are the key steps to preventing stains.
Rinse Your Mouth After Smoking
Yes, this may sound tedious, but if you want to prevent those pesky stains, you’re going to have to put in the work. Rinse your mouth or brush your teeth after smoking to prevent stains from forming.
According to experts, brushing right after smoking prevents tar and chemicals from embedding into the enamel, causing stains over your teeth.
Change Your Diet
- Apples, carrots, and celery act as organic stain removers.
- Citrus fruits like oranges and pineapples help wash the teeth and whiten them.
- Dairy products such as milk, yogurt, cheese, etc. preserve and improve teeth enamel and reduce periodontal disease.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Alongside taking care of your teeth at home, routine visits to your dentist help maintain oral hygiene and prevent stains from forming.
Quit Smoking
And perhaps the most important step to removing nicotine stains from your teeth – quitting smoking. While a difficult task, quitting smoking is important for not just your oral health but also your general well-being.
Teeth Whitening at Le Sueur Family Dental, MN
At Le Sueur Family Dental, Dr. David Tycast is the in-house dental expert offering his expertise to the people of Le Sueur.
At our clinic, Dr. Tycast provides take-home kits for you to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your home. They provide custom trays to make sure you get the most out of your treatments along with assured results.
To find out more about teeth whitening at our clinic, please call us at (507) 665-6812. You can alsorequest an appointment here.
