Cosmetic Dentistry: Professional Teeth Whitening For Smokers
Smokers don’t have it easy when it comes to stain removal. However, dentists have dental procedures put together to help remove the stains and enhance their dental appearance. The question is, is teeth whitening effective for smokers? Let’s check that out!
Professional teeth whitening involves an in-office dental procedure that makes the teeth whiter and brighter than their prior state. Teeth whitening is a cosmetic procedure that beautifies the dental structure.
Teeth discoloration that is caused by smoking can not be easily removed with whitening mouthwash or toothpaste. However, professional teeth whitening procedure might be able to get the job done. A professional teeth whitening procedure removes discoloration from the teeth and whitens the teeth up to 12 shades lighter. With the help of cosmetic dentistry, smokers can get teeth whitening and not worry about how dark their teeth become due to smoking.
Most people who smoke often wonder about why their teeth get darker even when nicotine seems colorless. Well, yes, nicotine is colorless. However, when it is mixed with oxygen, it gets a yellowish color. And a brown color is gotten from tobacco. When the teeth are exposed to nicotine and tobacco, it gets stained. Smoking can also expose your gums to decay and infections which can lead to worse dental problems. This makes it even harder for smokers who don’t practice good oral hygiene.
Teeth whitening is a safe procedure. Although getting teeth whitening treatment from unauthorized persons can expose your teeth to infections and dangerous substances. This is because some ingredients might not be suitable for you and only the recommendation of a qualified dentist can be safe and trusted. Also, over-the-counter teeth whitening products might not give you the results you require. Getting professional teeth whitening from dental offices decreases your chances of suffering from side effects (if there are any).
What Does Professional Teeth Whitening For Smokers Entail?
Since we are focusing on smokers, teeth whitening might not be as easy as it is for other types of teeth discoloration. This is because the stains left on the teeth by the nicotine or tobacco might be tough and might have penetrated deep into the teeth.
The first thing that you need to do is book an appointment with your dentist. If you don’t know a dentist, you can visit a dentist in Pheonix, Az. You can relax cause teeth whitening and dental cleanings in Pheonix are effective and safe. After your appointment has been confirmed, a dental checkup will be carried out and the dentist would ask questions concerning your medical history. This is to put you on the safe side and make sure that there are no medical conditions or allergies that might compromise your teeth whitening treatment. It is also to make sure that teeth whitening is the right procedure for you. If teeth whitening is not the best procedure for you due to the level of the stains, medical condition, or allergies, there are other dental procedures that your dentist can recommend for you. For instance, porcelain veneers, dental crowns, or other smile makeover procedures can be used to cover up the stains and give you a better look.
After your dentist confirms that teeth whitening is right for you, the treatment can begin. The dentist will then add the whitening agents to the teeth after which an LED light would be activated on the teeth to allow the teeth to absorb the whitening agents. After 30 minutes, the treatment would be done. However, if the teeth are severely stained by smoking, the dentist will prolong the time for treatment to 1 hour so that the stain can be fully removed.
How Effective Are Professional Teeth Whitening For Smokers?
There are also home whitening kits that can help remove stains like whitening toothpaste and teeth whitening strips. Nevertheless, you still need to consult your dentist for suggestions and instructions. Truth be told, professional teeth whitening can lighten the teeth more than home teeth whitening especially if the teeth are extremely discolored due to hard smoking habits. They can be used after you’ve gotten professional teeth whitening to help retain the effectiveness of the whitening agents. However, if the patient continues to smoke, the treatment might not last long. This can jeopardize the effectiveness of the professional teeth whitening the patient has gotten in the past.
How Can Smokers Maintain Teeth Whitening Effects?
Well, smoking is a habit that is not easy to curb. However, quitting this habit is the best way to maintain the effect of teeth whitening. You can get therapy if you feel the need to. If therapy helps, you can quit smoking little by little. Note that, smoking would only put your overall health and dental health in danger. If you want to maintain clean and healthy teeth, put an end to smoking.
Also, practicing proper dental hygiene will increase the effectiveness of your teeth whitening treatment. Brush your teeth twice daily and floss once every day. Eat healthy food and veggies to strengthen your teeth and prevent plaques and cavities from building up inside your teeth. Visit the dentist for routine dental exams and cleanings.
Try to preserve the effectiveness of your teeth whitening treatment with the use of home whitening treatments.