Smoker’s Teeth – Yellow Forever?

Have you stopped smoking? Here’s how to have nice looking teeth again.

If you are of a certain age, it is very possible that you smoked during your younger years.

With the numerous health warnings since, many will hopefully have stopped by now, with even more likely to do so in the future. Whilst it is a fact that, once you stop smoking, your health will usually improve, smoking can leave a legacy behind; one that you will probably see when you look in the mirror!

Smoker’s teeth

All smokers, but heavier smokers especially, are likely to have teeth that are quite yellow, or even brown, in colour. This is caused by the tar and nicotine in cigarettes and other tobacco products that  have stained your teeth over time. Although stopping smoking should prevent them from becoming worse, they are unlikely to improve in colour without a little help from your local Bedford dentists.

Oral health first

Before we take a look at the best way to restore the whiteness of your teeth, it is essential that the health of your teeth and gums are checked. Smokers especially, are in a high risk category for gum disease and you may need to undergo treatment in order to fully restore the health of your gums. Once this has been done, we can look at the whitening options available at The Dental Centre Bedford.

Whiter teeth for ex smokers

The most obvious choice to whiten the teeth of ex smokers is our popular whitening procedure. In cases of severe discolouration, this treatment may only produce limited results and here we may need to look at dental veneers as an alternative to teeth whitening. Rather than attempting to whiten the natural enamel of your teeth, veneers are, instead, used to replace it. This does mean that you will need to have a local anaesthetic, as the badly stained enamel will need to be ‘shaved’ from the front of the teeth so that the veneers can be fitted to replace it and mask any defects.

The veneers themselves are produced from digital scans that are taken of the prepared teeth. Unlike many dental clinics, where the veneers are made off site, causing a delay and the need for a second visit, we have the facilities to produce the porcelain veneers whilst you wait! We do this using the ‘Cerec’ system which mills the veneers from an individual block of porcelain, using the information produced by the scan. Approximately one hour later, you can have the veneers fitted to your teeth using a strong bonding adhesive.

Veneers are relatively straightforward to look after, but you should make sure not only to clean the new veneer, but the rest of your natural tooth too. This will help to ensure that the veneer remains firmly seated, preserving your great looking smile!

If you have recently stopped smoking, why not call The Dental Centre Bedford on 01234 819868 to see how we can help you restore the appearance of your smile. We’ll be pleased to set you on your way to a beautiful, smoke-free new smile!