Tobacco
Teeth Stains
Dear Dr. Hall:
I drink coffee and smoke, and you can tell from my
stained teeth. What's the best way to get rid of these coffee and tobacco
stains?
- Vicky in Iowa
Dear Vicky:
There is only one best toothpaste I know of that will
remove tobacco stains, and that is Supersmile®
whitening toothpaste. While typical
smokers' toothpastes are very harsh, Supersmile gently dissolves the
protein pellicle that these stains attach to, and is so gentle that it is
one of only two toothpastes I am aware of that is proven gentle enough for
delicate cosmetic bonding. I'm sure it will keep these stains off your
beautiful teeth.
| But tobacco causes two types of staining on teeth.
Initially, it accumulates on the surface like a brownish crud, as you see
in the photos to the right. This
superficial stain can be removed with a professional cleaning or with
Supersmile. But, over the years, some of the stain will soak into the
teeth. Tooth enamel is a little porous, and this makes the whole tooth
turn a darker color. No toothpaste will remove this. What you have to do
at this point is a professional tooth whitening.
A clear tray is made for your teeth, and you wear that tray with a
whitening gel in it either during the day or at night depending on the
system being used. Or you can get an in-office
Zoom whitening treatment,
which does the same thing. The gel that is used is oxygenating, and it
penetrates into the tooth and chemically alters the stains, thus
eliminating them. |
a light tobacco stain on teeth
this is a heavier stain |
Without tooth whitening treatments, tobacco can
eventually make your teeth be a fairly dark brown color.
Click here for information about
coffee stains on teeth.
Other substances will cause
discolored teeth. Tea, cola drinks, and
darkly pigmented berries will all be absorbed over the years by your teeth
and will cause a brownish or yellowish color of the teeth.
Supersmile isn't sold in stores, but it is available
directly from the Supersmile company or from many cosmetic dentists. We also make it
available to our web site visitors for a discount and free shipping. Click
the link at the beginning of this paragraph for more
information.
- Dr. Hall
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