If you have a habit of chewing tobacco or smoking cigarettes regularly, your teeth probably have some yellow stains because of it.
Tobacco stains on teeth take away the beauty of your smile. These stains are difficult to remove, and the only shortcut available is through a special dental procedure. But light tobacco stains can still be managed with the use of oral care products.
In addition to general good oral hygiene, you can also make a lemon or diluted hydrogen peroxide mouthwash to back up your whitening toothpaste. So, follow these methods for removing tobacco stains from your teeth because the world needs another bright smile.
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Homemade oral care that removes tobacco stains
When dealing with stains, you should start by looking for solutions at home because remedies in your own comfort zone almost always work as well as commercial products. Sometimes, even better.
Some helpful ingredients for removing tobacco stains from your teeth can be found in your own kitchen, including lemon, strawberries, turmeric powder and baking soda. Even the hydrogen peroxide in your medicine cabinet can also remove stubborn tobacco stains and bring back your pearly white smile.
There’s no excuse to let tobacco stains ruin your teeth and make your gums prone to oral infections, when home remedies are so easily available. Follow these procedures to start treating tobacco stains and bringing back your white teeth.
Strip tobacco stains with lemon gargle
The bleaching effect of lemon is the principle employed in this method. You must continually use its extract when rinsing your teeth, which will eventually remove the yellowish tobacco stains from your teeth after some time has passed.
- Roll a lemon over your kitchen counter to release its extract on the inside.
- Slice the lemon and squeeze out the juice using a lemon squeezer.
- Transfer the lemon juice to a glass with lukewarm water, and thoroughly blend to create a solution.
- Let it sit for a minute or two and use the solution as a gargle.
- Continue doing this method as part of your daily routine.
Use strawberries and baking soda to get rid of tobacco stains
Have you heard of the song strawberries and cigarettes? Quite absurd, but strawberry seems to be associated with removing tobacco stains. This method uses strawberries and baking soda to create a homemade toothpaste. Use this natural strawberry toothpaste as part of your nightly routine before going to bed.
- Crush three strawberries in a bowl.
- Add ¼ teaspoon of baking soda.
- Mix well the crushed strawberry and the baking soda to form a paste.
- Apply the paste on your toothbrush and use it to cover your tobacco-stained teeth for at least two to five minutes.
- Then proceed with brushing your teeth.
- Rinse as usual.
You can use the lemon gargle in the final rinse of this method. The combination of the two methods can help speed up the removal of the tobacco stain.
Get rid of tobacco-stained teeth with turmeric powder
Recent studies have found that turmeric powder can be used to whiten and brighten teeth. Even though turmeric is notorious for leaving stains behind on everything it comes in contact with, the opposite is true when it comes to teeth. This spice is used as one of the home remedies for removing tobacco stains on teeth.
- Add a teaspoon of turmeric powder to a small dish.
- Rinse your mouth to remove food particles.
- Wet your toothbrush and pat it on the turmeric powder.
- Brush your teeth as usual, using the turmeric powder as the toothpaste.
- Rinse your mouth as usual.
After using this method, your tongue or lips may be stained with the turmeric powder. This stain is just temporary and will disappear on its own. With this being said, it is advised that you perform this method when you have no outside appointments.
Remove tobacco stains on teeth with hydrogen peroxide
Don’t hesitate to use hydrogen peroxide just because it sounds unsafe. The truth is, the toothpaste you are using already probably contains this substance. This method will also help brighten your teeth because of the help of the hydrogen peroxide.
- Pour a small amount of hydrogen peroxide (less than an ounce) in a glass of water to dilute it.
- Use this dilution to rinse your mouth for less than 15 seconds.
- Spit out the dilution and make a final mouth rinse with distilled water.
This technique is best performed as the pre-rinse procedure before brushing your teeth.
Over-the-counter oral care to remove tobacco stains
Whitening toothpaste is the most common over-the-counter product that helps you get rid of tobacco stains. Some products of this kind use mild abrasives that work best on superficial tobacco stains. When you buy an abrasive paste, make sure that you read the manufacturer’s instructions for the best results.
It is recommended that you only use abrasive whitening toothpaste a couple times a week. The frequent use of abrasive toothpaste damages your teeth and makes it more prone to yellow discoloration.
Common questions about tobacco stains
How does strawberry help remove tobacco stains on teeth?
The main component that makes strawberry a good tobacco stain remover is the malic enzyme. Malic enzyme can penetrate the teeth’s enamel (the hard and outer surface layer of your teeth) and loosen the tobacco stain to make it easier for you to remove when regularly brushing your teeth.
What is the best toothpaste to remove tobacco stains?
The best toothpaste that you can use to remove tobacco stains is the one with whitening properties. Some toothpaste formulas include hydrogen peroxide as the whitening agent. Also, find the toothpaste that contains sodium fluoride so you can have both stronger teeth and fresh breath. Specially designed toothpaste is available for people with braces where baking soda and peroxide are the usual key ingredients.
Can dentists remove tobacco stains?
Yes. There are different ways available at your dentist’s clinic to remove tobacco stains, but bleaching is the mainstream approach. In this procedure, your teeth are whitened and the discoloration brought by tobacco stains fades. Regular dental cleaning and good oral hygiene also help. The use of porcelain veneers can also be the answer if tobacco stains are stubborn and already set in.
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Wrapping Up
Remember that yellowish teeth stains are the product of long-time tobacco consumption, which cannot be removed overnight. But with constant use of home remedies or over-the-counter tooth care products, the burden of tobacco stains can be reduced. In the long run, these products will eventually remove the tobacco stains from your teeth, especially if you also stop smoking. That is why discipline and patience are essential when dealing with this kind of stain.
