The presence of so many smoking zones in our towns is evidence enough that smoking has become a habit that is slowly becoming untamable. The fact that smoking comes along with serious health effects cannot be overemphasized. One such effect is the kind of damage tobacco has on teeth. Teeth get discolored and in some cases, one develops foul breath. The best solution is quit. Alternatively, one can go for Porcelain veneers. Read on to learn more.
Ways Smoking Stains The Teeth
The fact that smoking is done orally means that you will drag the smoke directly across your teeth when you use cigarettes. Once the smoke is in the mouth, its components which includes a dark colored tar, will then cause stains by adhering to your enamel. Now this destroys the cigarette party. The colorless nicotine becomes yellow when exposed to the air. Hence, this substance can definitely contribute to dental discoloration.
The Porcelain Veneer Solution
An effective way to reduce tooth stains caused by smoking can be teeth whitening. However, even the most effective whitening treatment may not completely eradicate discoloration. On the other hand, veneers will fully conceal stains, giving you a white, remarkable smile. To place veneers, the dentist will buff your teeth to remove a very thin layer of enamel. In this manner, the dentist can aid the veneers lie flat against your teeth. They will then take impressions of your teeth, which the technician will use to create the veneers. While you are waiting, you will be fitted with temporary veneers. Once the final veneers are finished, the temporary veneers will be removed and the permanent one with composite resin will be attached.
How Will Further Smoking Affect Your Veneers?
The good news is that smoking will not affect your veneers because dental porcelain is impervious to stains. But, a cigarette smoke can stain the composite that is used to attach the porcelain. Consequently, this material may become discolored, creating a yellow or brown tinge at the edges of your teeth, if you continue to smoke. You also draw smoke across your gum tissue, in addition to dragging it across your teeth. The carcinogens can then cause irregular cell divisions and tissue mutations
Smoking and Your Overall Oral-Physical Health
When you stop smoking, it can have other vital oral benefits. To start with, smoking can lead to gum disease. You will not be able to fight off oral bacteria since the smoke compromises your immune system. Therefore, bacterial pockets can quickly build up in your gums; this will lead to tissue recession, bone degeneration, and tooth loss. It will be even more alarming that smoking is the leading cause of oral cancer. Smoking has other effects for your general overall health, including lung disease, stroke, heart attack and increased risk for lung cancer, among other serious concerns. Accordingly, quitting can improve your health, appearance, as well as complete quality of life.
If you are set to quit smoking and you desire a perfect smile, you should consult an experienced dental surgeon, such as Dr. Alex Rubinov, to find out whether veneers are right for you. Contact us at (718) 253-0800 to schedule an appointment.