The side effects such as discoloration of the teeth and lip colour caused by smoking can be changed by bringing about a few simple lifestyle changes which will enable prevention of teeth discoloration. One can also prevent the side effects of smoking by improving dental hygiene.
If discoloration of teeth appears to be of an abnormal color without a logical explanation and, if other symptoms are also present, it is advisable to see the dentist at the earliest.
Discoloration of the lip is another area that needs care and attention to regain the natural color.
Symptoms and side effects of discoloration of the teeth and lip
Symptoms of Smoking on teeth and lips:Apart from discoloration of the teeth and lip, smoking cigarettes or cigars can cause a number of other oral symptoms and side effects which include:
- Sticky tar deposits
- Brown tooth stains
- Red inflammation on the roof of the mouth
- Delayed healing of the gums
- Chronic bad breath
- More tooth decay than non smokers
Smoking reduces the flow of saliva
The symptoms are gross manifestations of the biological changes occurring in the body due to continuous addiction to smoking. Here are some key reasons that could lead to teeth discoloration:
Saliva is important for cleaning the lining of the mouth and teeth and protects teeth from decay. Smoking reduces the flow of saliva and thus handicaps its key function.
Smoking reduces blood flow to the gums and cuts the supply of vital nutrients.
Vitamin C helps gums to stay healthy. Smoking reduces the level of vitamin C drastically.
Together, a reduced blood flow and diminishing vitamin C level, make treatment of gum disease in smokers a difficult proposition.
Smoking also raises the mouth's temperature, damaging and killing important oral tissue cells.
Other causes other than smoking that lead discoloration of the teeth are:
Several diseases that affect enamel (the hard surface of the teeth) and dentin (the underlying material under enamel) can lead to tooth discoloration.
Treatments for certain conditions can also affect tooth color. For example, head and neck radiation and chemotherapy can cause teeth discoloration.
Mouth rinses and washes containing chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride can also stain teeth.
Antihistamines (like Benadryl), antipsychotic drugs, and antihypertensive medications also cause teeth discoloration.
Excessive fluoride either from environmental sources (naturally high fluoride levels in water) or from excessive use (fluoride applications, rinses, toothpaste, and fluoride supplements taken by mouth) can cause teeth discoloration.
Reduce intake of coffee and cigarettes
Remedies to prevent tooth discoloration:
To prevent discoloration a coffee drinker and/or smoker must consider reducing intake or giving up on these addictions. One can also prevent the side effects of smoking by improving dental hygiene .This can be done by brushing and flossing regularly and getting teeth cleaned by a dentist every 6 months.
Treatment options or home remedies that can be tried at home may vary depending on the cause of the discoloration and include:
Using proper tooth brushing and flossing techniques
Avoidance of foods and beverages that cause stains on teeth.
Using Over-The-Counter whitening agents
Remedies to prevent discoloration of the lip:
Here are simple lip care tips and home remedies for intense smokers:
To reduce discoloration caused by smoking or caffeinated drinks the first step is to reduce the intake of such habits.
Drink at least 10 glasses of water to flush toxins away.
Apply Vaseline to your lips regularly.
Clarified butter is also a very good home remedy. Apply a little every night to soothe lips. This helps keep lips moisturized.
Another effective home remedy is applying the juice of a lemon which has bleaching properties to the lips daily. This helps lighten the colour of the lips over time.
It is advisable for women to wear lipstick with sunscreen, as Ultra Violet radiation may cause pigmentation.
Avoid tooth decaying foods like carbohydrates and sugar
Doctors recommend treatments that are advisable to cure discoloration of the teeth and the most one can do on the diet front is to avoid certain tooth decaying foods. Most avoidable foods include all carbohydrates and sugar as they can cause tooth decay. All simple sugars, including table sugar (sucrose) and the sugars in honey (levulose and dextrose), fruit (fructose), and milk (lactose), have the same effect on the teeth.
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