If you’ve made a new year’s resolution to stop smoking this year, it’s not just the best decision you’ll make for your overall health. It’s the best thing you can do for your oral health too. As well as contributing to gum disease and mouth cancer, smoking can leave unsightly stains on teeth. Removing smoking stains from teeth isn’t easy, but it can be done.

How Smoking Affects Your Oral Health

It stains your teeth

When you smoke, nicotine and tar can stick to your tooth enamel turning them yellow or brown. The good news is, you can restore your smile back to its former glory with the right at-home tooth cleaning tools.

The OralPerfect Tooth Cleaner and the Efero Teeth Whitening Pen are your secret weapons when it comes to removing smoking stains from teeth.

It increases your risk of gum disease

Smoking increases your risk of developing gum disease. What’s more, if your gums are damaged, they are less likely to heal as smoking reduces the flow of blood and oxygen to the gums.

It causes bad breath and affects your sense of taste

The smell of stale smoke can linger on your breath and cause bad breath. Also, you’ll probably find that your sense of smell and taste is weaker than it was.

You’ll take longer to heal from dental treatment

As a smoker who is more prone to gum disease, you’re likely to find yourself in the dentist’s chair more often. Whether you’re having a tooth extraction or dental cleaning to removing smoking stains from teeth, you’ll experience more pain and slower healing following treatment. This is because smoking reduces blood and oxygen flow.

Mouth cancer

According to the American Lung Association, there are around 69 known cancer-causing chemicals in cigarettes. Tobacco contains some of the these chemicals. Over 60% of mouth cancers are linked to smoking.

Early stage oral cancers are often spotted by dentists, so make sure you attend your regular check-ups.

Give Up Smoking for a Healthier Smile

Giving up smoking is one of the best things you can do for your oral health and your overall health. As well as stopping smoking, remember to:

Brush your teeth twice a day, with fluoride toothpaste;

Floss regularly;

Use a good mouthwash;

Visit your dentist every 6 months.

For more articles on oral health and the genius products that will help protect your smile, check out the rest of our blog.  

Sources:

https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/smoking-facts/whats-in-a-cigarette

https://www.dentalhealth.org/mouth-cancer-risk-factors