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    Yellow teeth from smoking? How to deal with smoking stains on teeth

    Reading time: 7 mins

    Can smoking cause yellow teeth? You may know the answer to this question already. If you’re a smoker, or former smoker, you are probably familiar with yellow or brown teeth from smoking.

     

    Tooth discolouration  is usually caused by plaque that is hard to remove even if you maintain thorough oral hygiene. While discoloured deposits can seem like purely a cosmetic issue, they can also be harmful for your teeth and oral health.

     

    In this article we’ll answer the question ‘why does smoking cause yellow teeth?’ and offer top tips for home remedies to help you remove the cigarette stains on your teeth, including:

     

    • Following the proper method of toothbrushing
    • Cleaning interdental spaces
    • Chewing sugar-free gum
    • Using mouthwash to combat tobacco breath

     

    Finally, we’ll let you know how you can make discoloured teeth whiter with the help of professional treatment, so that your smile will sparkle once again.

    Why does smoking make your teeth yellow?

     

    There are a number of well-known reasons why smoking tobacco products can be bad for your health, including your oral health. Whether you still smoke or are an ex-smoker, having yellow teeth from smoking can leave some feeling self-conscious about their smile – but why does smoking cause yellow teeth?

     

    The question ‘why does smoking make teeth yellow?’ has a few different answers. Here’s a quick guide to the causes of yellow and brown smoking stains on teeth:

     

    • Tobacco products contain nicotine and tar. Exposing your teeth to these tobacco ingredients has been shown to lead to yellow smoking stains on teeth, and even on facial hair.1
    • Smoking can lead to dry mouth.2 With lower saliva levels, your mouth is prone to an increase in bacteria and thus plaque production, which is the main cause of discolouration.
    • Smoking affects blood flow.3 To function properly your gums need sufficient blood flow. When you smoke, you interfere with the circulation of your blood, which in turn can affect your mouth’s ability to deal with the microbes that can discolour your teeth.

     

    Untreated, the deposited yellow or brown stains on teeth from smoking can lead to more severe oral conditions such as tooth decay and gingivitis.4 Read on to discover top tips for removing smoking stains on teeth.

    A young blonde woman looking in the mirror and looking at her white teeth.

    Smoking stains on teeth removal at home

     

    So, does smoking make teeth yellow? Yes. In fact, a UK study found that around 28% of smokers notice some form of stained yellow or brown teeth from smoking.5

     

    However, with the right steps you can begin to counter the effects and make your teeth whiter. Here’s a few things you can do at home for smoking stains on teeth removal:

     

    • Regular brushing is an important precaution for avoiding plaque. Make sure you are following the correct toothbrushing method and brushing your teeth at least twice a day for two to three minutes.
    • Clean your interdental spaces daily. Since nicotine likes to settle in interdental spaces, you should clean these hard-to-reach areas at least once a day. Using dental floss, an interdental brush or the Philips Power Flosser, you can remove not only nicotine but excess bacteria and food residue too. This will give your oral health a protective boost.
    • Chew sugar-free gum. Be sure to choose a product containing xylitol.6 This chewing gum can help to promote salivation, improve the pH level in your mouth and give you fresh breath, combatting that notorious smoker’s breath, all at the same time.
    • Give your mouth a daily rinse using mouthwash. An antibacterial mouthwash isn’t just an ideal choice to remedy bad breath. It’s also a great way to reach every area of your mouth, even the interdental spaces. Using mouthwash can help wash nicotine and plaque bacteria away and protect your teeth from discolouration . Don’t use it straight after brushing, though, or you’ll wash away the protective fluoride on your teeth.7
    • Finally, if you haven’t already, consider quitting smoking. You already know the answer to the question ‘does smoking make your teeth yellow?’, which means you know the core issue to address for better oral and general health. Quitting smoking, in addition to following the above steps, is the perfect way to get back to that perfect smile.

     

    Tip: If you feel that you’re not achieving good results with your manual toothbrush, try using a modern sonic toothbrush, such as the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean. When used in combination with the W2 Optimal White Brush Head, superficial tobacco discolouration can be significantly reduced. With regular, proper use, this toothbrush can help to make your teeth whiter in just one week.

     

    If the yellow smoking stains on your teeth have hardened to brown, or even black, tartar deposits, it’s time to visit the dentist to have a professional clean and whiten your teeth.

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    Professional treatment to remove cigarette stains on teeth

     

    While the above steps provide useful ways to prevent staining from getting worse and reduce any light yellow or brown stains on teeth from smoking, already advanced discolouration from smoking cannot be treated at home.

     

    Within days the plaque that causes yellow cigarette stains on teeth can begin to harden and become a build-up of tartar, which cannot be removed even with thorough brushing.8 Below are our top tips if you have an advanced case of smoking stains on your teeth:

     

    • Visit your dentist for a professional cleaning treatment. Smokers should have their teeth professionally cleaned by their dentist every four months, in order to remove plaque and discolouration.
    • In addition to cleaning, opt for a professional whitening treatment. There are several bleaching methods, with which your dentist can, after a professional cleaning, restore the natural white of your teeth.

     

    While the answer to the question ‘can smoking cause yellow teeth?’ is yes, that doesn’t have to be the end of the story. With just a few simple tips you can protect yourself from smoking stains on your teeth, and soon you’ll be able to enjoy a sparkling smile once again.

     

    Sources:
    1 Laborada and Cohen, Smoker’s Mustache Revisited: Upper Lip Hair Yellow Discoloration Associated With Tobacco, Cureus 13(10).
    2 Rad et al., Effect of long-term smoking on whole-mouth salivary flow rate and oral health, Journal of Dental Research, Dental Clinics, Dental Prospects 4(4), 110–114.
    3 Smoking and your circulation, NHS Torbay and South Devon.
    4 The effect that smoking has on your oral health, NHS Queen Victoria Hospital.
    5 Alkhatib et al., Smoking and tooth discolouration: findings from a national cross-sectional study, BMC Public Health 5, 27.
    6 Söderling and Pienihäkkinen, Effects of xylitol chewing gum and candies on the accumulation of dental plaque: a systematic review, Clinical Oral Investigations 26(1), 119–129.
    7 How to keep your teeth clean, NHS.
    8 Tooth plaque, NHS Great Ormond Street.

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