It is a proven fact that smoking is very damaging to your oral health. It can lead to bad breath, cavities, stained teeth, and even misshapen teeth. If you are currently smoking with no plans of quitting, we recommend seeing a doctor and getting a plan in place to quit smoking.
If you already have a plan to quit smoking, be sure to involve your dentist at Pickens Family Dentistry. We can assist you in developing healthy habits for your teeth. Here are some steps and recommendations for involving your dentist and having a healthy smile as you quit smoking.
Visit a Primary Health Doctor First, Dentist Second
Visit with a primary health doctor to create a plan. This plan may stretch over a long period of time. You should plan on follow-up visits with your primary health care doctor! Once you have a plan in place, schedule an appointment with Pickens Family Dentistry or your local dentist.
At that appointment, if you are due for a cleaning we will have one of our hygienists clean your teeth. If you have had a cleaning recently, you will have x-rays taken, and one of our dentists will do a consultation with you. They will do an exam and look at your X-rays, evaluating any spots that are of concern. Bring the plan that you created with your primary health doctor!
Maintain Good Oral Habits
We understand that a change in habits, such as smoking, does not happen overnight. While trying to change those damaging habits, adding new, positive habits may be very helpful. Be sure to brush your teeth at least morning and night, as well as floss and use a tongue scraper.
These things cannot completely remedy the damage that smoking may have caused your teeth, but they will help mitigate some. These oral health habits can specifically help prevent bad breath and cavities. You could still see discoloration and misshapen teeth.
Consider Nicotine Patches or Gum
Dentists typically advocate for switching to nicotine gum or patches. These are safer for your oral health and in some cases. If switching to nicotine gum is not an option for you, sugar-free gum with xylitol is a great option throughout the day to keep your mouth smelling fresh and feeling healthy.
Ask your doctor about nicotine gum or patches as you create a treatment plan!
Treat any Tooth Damage
Once you have completely stopped smoking, you should schedule another appointment with us. We will do a consultation focused on treating or repairing any tooth damage that occurred because of smoking. While we cannot always undo everything, our focus is on giving you a stellar and healthy smile.
Some treatment options we may recommend are:
- Veneers: Thin sheets of porcelain or composite material that cover the front of the tooth.
- Teeth whitening: A treatment using a special serum to draw out tanins in the teeth.
- A dental deep clean: A treatment that cleans and stimulates the gums.
- Crowns: Porcelain or composite caps that go over a damaged too for protection.
These treatments and suggestions vary from person to person, and they help treat different things.
Crowns or veneers can help with severely damaged teeth that may be misshapen or seriously discolored from the tobacco. A dental deep clean would be used if you experienced gum irritation from the use of cigarettes.
Teeth Whitening
Our teeth whitening treatments are great if you experienced any level of tooth staining over the course of your smoking. Pickens Family Dentistry offers take-home and in-office teeth-whitening solutions that are quick, easy, and proven.
Let Pickens Family Dentistry Help Today!
If you are experiencing dental side effects from a long-gone smoking habit or are in the process of leaving cigarettes, we have oral health support at the ready. Contact us for a cleaning, a consultation, or teeth whitening today!