Teeth Whitening And Smoking
Smokers, and ex smokers, can benefit from our smile whitening treatments.
While the increase in popularity of the teeth whitening procedure can be at least partially attributed to the influence of TV celebrities who have had it, it certainly isn’t the whole story. If we are honest, most of us past a certain age would probably like to have whiter teeth, even if we don’t actually do anything about it.
Some groups of people are more likely to want to have this treatment though, and one significant one is those who either still smoke or have smoked in the past but have now quit. Naturally, those who have quit are likely to see results that last longer, while those who continue to smoke will have teeth which discolour again much quicker. This isn’t the only benefit to quitting smoking of course and oral health issues like gum disease and oral cancer risks will be reduced if you do quit.
Let us take a look at the options available for people in this situation and discuss which might be the best approach to take.
First, a quick word about the dental hygienist
We will briefly mention this as although it isn’t a teeth whitening treatment as such, the scale and polish procedure that the hygienist will carry out at our Epsom dental clinic does remove some surface staining. While the benefits are limited in this matter, it also helps to reduce the risk of gum disease, something where smokers are at higher risk. We recommend that everybody sees our local hygienist at six monthly intervals, so please make sure you have an appointment booked.
Teeth whitening
The teeth whitening procedure is likely to be the first stop for most people. It is an effective treatment but works best on teeth that have been lightly stained or where the dentin beneath the enamel has darkened with age.
For smokers and ex smokers, there should be some improvement but it may not be as much as you had hoped for. There are a number of factors which come into play in this situation.
Surface staining – Most of this will be removable with a teeth whitening procedure and you should expect to see at least some improvement to the colour of your teeth.
Deeper staining – Especially where there has been some damage to the enamel of the tooth, the discolouration caused by the tar in cigarettes is likely to be much harder to remove and some may remain after the treatment.
Weakened enamel – Where the enamel surface has been eroded and feels rough, these teeth are more likely to become stained again much quicker than where healthy tooth enamel is present. Naturally, those who continue to smoke can expect to see teeth darken again sooner. You can, if you wish of course, have the treatment repeated more frequently to counteract this and this is one option available to you.
So, is this treatment worth having if you smoke or have smoked? The best option is to have a consultation with the dentist to discuss this. For many people, it is worth trying. The teeth whitening procedure is non-invasive and affordable and many people try this first before considering the second option.
Dental veneers
The other option for smokers and ex smokers is to have porcelain veneers fitted to the teeth. Instead of whitening the current tooth enamel, a fine layer of this is removed and an equivalent layer of porcelain is attached to the teeth, then shaped and polished for a natural finish.
This is a highly effective method and veneers can last for around ten years with good care. Although modern porcelain veneers are stain resistant, tar is a very sticky substance and while good cleaning is essential, you may find it a challenge to keep the veneers as white as you would like. Again, we would say that this should be a good reason for you to consider quitting smoking. You will certainly get more from your new smile if you do!
On the whole, smokers and ex smokers are probably going to have a longer lasting and better smile with veneers but it should be remembered that this does usually require some invasive dentistry and is a permanent procedure. Once the natural enamel of the tooth has been removed it will never ‘grow back’ and you will need to have veneers for the rest of your life. Replacing them is usually straightforward and only requires the removal of the old veneers and then re-attaching new ones to replace them.
There is no right or wrong here, and patient choice is likely to be the deciding factor. Our Epsom dentists will be able to discuss these options with you and offer their professional advice, but the choice will be yours. If you have not had these treatments before and find it hard to decide, it is probably likely that we will recommend that the teeth whitening procedure be tried first. This is non-invasive and you will almost certainly see some improvement. Whether this is sufficient for you will probably influence the next step that you take.
If you smoke, or have smoked, and would like to see how much we can improve the colour of your stained teeth, we are always happy to help you attain an improved smile. To book an initial consultation with us at the Clocktower Dental, Implant & Facial Centre, please call us today on 01372 720136 and we will arrange a convenient appointment for you.