2010-01-27 12:01:03 - The findings of a study, conducted by the Institute of Public Health (IPH), Bangalore, shows that over 50 per cent of Indians are smokers. Smoking harms your entire body.Teeth & lips are the most delicate and beautiful part of human body. Everybody wants beautiful lip and teeth. Teeth & Lip discoloration is common problem for chain smokers. The side effects such as discoloration of the teeth and lip color 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. Discoloration of the lip is another area that needs care and attention to regain the natural color.

Symptoms of Smoking on Teeth & 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. The symptoms are gross manifestations of the biological changes occurring in the body due to continuous addiction to smoking. Here are two important key reasons that could lead to teeth discoloration:

Smoking reduces the flow of saliva. 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. Smoking also raises the mouth's temperature, damaging and killing important oral tissue cells.
Smoking leads to several diseases that affect tooth enamel and dentin that leads to tooth discoloration. Chain smokers normally use the mouth rinses and washes containing chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride which can also stain teeth.
Although the suggestion is to quit smoking. For those who find it difficult to quit treatment options or home remedies that can be tried at home may vary depending on the cause of the discoloration: Some tips to avoid discoloration include:
To prevent discoloration a smoker must consider trying his best to 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.
Massage the gums with your fingers after brushing, as this increases the blood supply and hence nutrition to the gums. Don't forget to clean your tongue with a tongue cleaner; this is as important as cleaning your teeth. Rinse your mouth thoroughly after eating anything to reduce the accumulation of food residues in the mouth.
Using proper tooth brushing and flossing techniques. Avoid tooth decaying foods like carbohydrates & sugars. Retentive sticky foods (such as raisins, caramels, toffees, slowly dissolving hard candies, etc.) that are not quickly diluted by saliva.
Vitamin C helps gums to stay healthy. Smoking reduces the level of vitamin C drastically. Eat plenty of green veggies and fruits. Gorge on foods rich in Vitamins.


Bread, pastries, aerated drinks, doughnuts, sweet rolls and processed cereals, should be avoided. An intense smoker should encourage beverages like lassi, buttermilk and home-made squashes atleast once in a day. 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. Apply Vaseline or lip balm to your lips regularly.
Using Over-The-Counter whitening agents or a chair side dental tooth whitening treatment which takes just 60 minutes to get back your pearly whites.
Smokers should try these healthy snacks that don't attack your teeth:- Celery & carrot snacks with hommous or avocado dip,-Vegemite crackers with cheese,- Plain yoghurt, fresh fruit and nuts. Eat a small piece of cheese or chew some sugar-free gum. Cheese provides calcium to replace the minerals lost by the bacteria produced acid, and helps to even up the bacterial balance in your mouth. Chewing gum stimulates the flow of saliva

Wash your mouth with normal tap water. Application of Margosa leaves and basil leaves by rubbing them tenderly on your lips for 5 minutes will get back your pinky pink lip color.

Always use a tooth brush with M shaped bristles as this cleans the teeth more effectively than ordinary tooth brushes with flat bristles. Do not use hard tooth brushes as these will damage the gums.

Take regular care of your teeth & lips, so that they look fresh and healthy. Pearly white teeth combined with luscious teeth lips also provide you the opportunity to stand out in the crowd. They bring you in the limelight. 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.

For further information kindly contact Dentzz Dental Care Centres on 23525458 / 23525438 / 9819916333 or visit our website www.dentzzdental.com & view the Smile Gallery on www.dentzzdental.com

ABOUT DR.SHANTANU JARADI:
Dr. Shantanu Jaradi, an aesthetic dentist, performs complex smile makeover and smile enhancement cases. He is also the Director of the state of the art Dentzz Dental Care Centres at Peddar Road and Lokhandwala, Mumbai, in which all basic to advanced dental procedures are carried out under one roof.