How Cosmetic Dentistry Can Help Remove Nictotine Stains From Teeth
by Lillian Dixon
Smoking is bad for your health in many ways. But one negative way that smoking can affect your teeth is through staining. Tar and nicotine penetrate tooth enamel via the pores in tooth enamel and cause unsightly stains. Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry can remove stains from smokers' teeth.
If your teeth are stained because of smoking, then the following cosmetic dental treatments can help return your teeth to their natural whiteness.
ฺTeeth whitening
The least invasive cosmetic dental treatment to remove stains is teeth whitening. You do have some over-the-counter options that you can purchase in a local pharmacy, but these options are difficult and a little risky if you have little experience with tooth whitening.
In-office whitening with the help of a dentist is the safest and most effective way to remove stains from teeth using hydrogen or carbamide peroxide. Since the nicotine and tar molecules from cigarettes penetrate the pores in your teeth over time, as you smoke, you need a way to remove those molecules. Teeth whitening can do that.
Dentists often take a two-pronged approach to removing cigarette stains from teeth with whitening. The first step is to whiten your teeth in office using trays filled with bleaching gel along with UV light. And if more whitening is necessary, your dentist can send you home with some custom whitening trays for you to continue the whitening process at home.
You can choose to whiten your teeth with over-the counter whitening trays, but these trays are often ill-fitting and awkward to use for beginners.
Composite veneers
Composite veneers consist of a material that is similar to the material dentists use to fill teeth or repair minor damage. Because composite resin is tooth-colored, and can be adapted to the same shade as your natural teeth before placement, it is an aesthetic way to cover teeth to mask smoking stains.
Dentists usually take about 45 minutes to apply composite resin to one tooth. So you may need several appointments to place composite veneers on multiple stained teeth.
Porcelain veneers
The most expensive, but also the most durable and attractive form of veneer is the porcelain veneer. These veneers last longer than composite veneers and look more like your natural teeth than composite veneers, which often stain easily if exposed to smoking or strong staining foods and drinks like wine. However, the placement process takes two weeks or more.
If smoking has stained your teeth, cosmetic dentistry is the solution to restore the natural whiteness of your teeth.
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About Me
As a mum, I know how essential sport can be to children's development. Through team sports like soccer, kids learn persistence, sportsmanship and the value of supporting their team members. However, all that learning carries some risk as well, and a stray elbow or a ball to the face can result in oral injuries. I have been the mum rushing to the emergency room with a precious permanent tooth sitting in a cup of milk. Admittedly, at the time, I wasn't even sure if the cup of milk was the right solution. As a parent, you will face those situations, and I'm here to make sure you know what to do when they pop up. With this blog, let's explore children's dentistry and sports injuries together... I want you to have the info you need to stay cool, calm and collected, regardless of how many teeth are on the pitch.