Dentist Questions Smoking

Is the yellow tinge on my teeth caused by smoking permanent?

I have been a smoker for the last 3 years and there is yellowing on my teeth that has started from the time I began smoking. Will this be permanent or can it be treated?

18 Answers

no. tooth bleaching can reverse it.
In most cases smoking stains on teeth can be professionally removed
The nicotine staining on your teeth SHOULD be only extrinsic (outer surface staining) - so it isn't permanent. This means that a good, but gentle, polishing of your teeth followed by professional whitening should remove most or all of that outer staining. Don't use whitening toothpastes, because they are often extra-abrasive and can wear down your tooth enamel. Over time, the INNER layer of our teeth will darken as we age - that "intrinsic" discolouration we can't really do anything about. Tobacco-smoking will cause periodontitis, gum recession, and eventual loosening and loss of teeth though - so be aware. Hope this helped.
Most likely, the stains can be cleaned off by a dentist or hygienist.
It depends on the source of the yellowing. In most cases it is due to the smoking. This is staining and can be removed through clean g or whitened through whitening. Continuation of smoking will lead to continued yellowing of teeth.
The stains can usually be removed for the most part. As long as you smoke the stains will continue to occur. It is best to quit smoking now, before permanent health damage occurs.
Maybe
Some yellowing of teeth can be due to staining, but heat from smoking can cause the teeth to get yellow from the heat and it may not get better. You can always try professional whitening to help it get whiter. You can also have other restorations placed to cover any dark spots that can't get whiter. You will need to consult your dentist.
Over time, the staining becomes more difficult to remove. There is some permeability with the enamel so the smoke can stain permanently over time. There are some great whitening options that your dentist can provide, but the smoking will require more frequency in using the whitening products. Your best best, not only for your teeth, but your overall health, is to stop the smoking. There are several smoking cessation options available.

Sincerely,
Dr. Rankin
Definitely yes! Smoking is not good for you - quit! The yellowing, if those are not stains on your teeth and don’t have to be removed by the dental professional, can be reversed by whitening procedures. Have to ask your dentist which would be suitable for you.
Hello,
The yellow discoloration can most of the times be cleaned by the dentist. Smoking does cause major gum issues (of course with other systemic issues), so your regular dental visits are imperative for keeping your teeth white and gums healthy.

Sheena Bhatia, DDS Inc.
It is probably treatable. It all depends where you see stain on the tooth. If it is on the crown of the tooth, we might be able to polish it away. If it is on exposed root surfaces, it may be more problematic, since the root is quite porous and susceptible to deeper staining. If polishing doesn't remove stain, then tooth whitening or bleaching may be
indicated. It can eliminate most of the stains commonly found on the crown of a tooth, but can cause extreme sensitivity on the root surfaces with little result in lightening. If the teeth are bleached, any darkened fillings will have to be replaced to match the newly lightened teeth, since fillings will not lighten. In cases of extreme staining, sometimes it is necessary to cover the teeth with bonding, crowns or veneers to restore them to a lighter, more acceptable shade.

If bleaching is done, please be advised that the process leaves the enamel temporarily more porous and easier to stain. That means that you should avoid smoking and consuming dark beverages during the duration of the bleaching process (up to 10 days), otherwise the teeth may lighten with little polka dots of stain - not the look we are trying to achieve.

Also, please re-evaluate smoking in general. If you notice stain on your teeth, what is it doing to your lungs? When you consider all the possible cancer and heart risks, perhaps teeth staining is a serious warning sign. If you have only been smoking for a few years it is time to stop.

In my practice I see many patients, some of whom are smokers. Everyone is different. Some people smoke as many as 3 packs a day, and there is no tobacco smell on their breath or clothes and no stain on their teeth. Some smoke less than a pack a day and we can smell the evidence of their habit as soon as they arrive. They often have dark black or brown stain on their teeth. And we see patients in between those extremes. But the point is, everyone is different in their makeup and metabolism, so there is no one way that everyone responds physically to smoking, and that includes staining of the teeth and any other physiological effects that it may cause.

Please, it is time to stop.

Michael A. Conrad, DDS, PC
Smoking generally leaves a surface stain we call extrinsic staining. A regular prophy cup with pumice or prophy paste should remove this type of stain off your teeth.
The yellow tinge caused by smoking is external staining of the teeth. This discoloration is not permanent and can be treated by over the counter and/or professional whitening treatments. Over-the-counter whitening requires more time and dedication by you to remove the stains. A professional whitening treatment, provided in a dentist’s office, can remove stains in as quickly as 30 minutes. A dentist can evaluate the amount of staining present on your teeth and recommend the right product for you. While staining is not permanent, it can recur with the continued contact of tobacco products to the teeth. So if you smoke and/or or drink coffee or tea it will be necessary to whiten your teeth periodically to maintain a brighter smile.

Martha G. Dever, DDS
Dever Dental LLC
The good news is that the staining on your teeth can usually be removed when you get your teeth polished by a dental hygienist. You may need to get some bleaching done as well to help get rid of the stain. I would recommend quitting smoking so that you don't have the staining in the first place.
It can be improved but will always come back as long as you continue to smoke.
Regardless of whether you treat this now or wait until it gets worse the longer you wait the more radical the procedures are to eliminate the stain. Ultimately it will cause you to have to have veneers and even those will stain as there not natural and and subject to easier staying on your natural teeth. So this isn't going to get better until you quit smoking or keep routine appointments with your hygienist in order to keep it eliminated
If it was not before, it can be taken care of with cleaning, polishing, and whitening. Depends on the structure of your enamel.