3 Home Remedies For Removing Stains On Your Teeth After You Quit Smoking

After years of smoking, you may have finally kicked the habit to avoid the health hazards and dangers to your oral health it can cause. However, you may cringe every time you see your smile in the mirror because the tar and nicotine have severely stained your teeth.

Pull Out the Stains with Coconut Oil and Salt

This first home remedy for removing cigarette stains from your teeth uses salt and coconut oil. The salt helps dissolve the stains and acts as a mild abrasive to scrape the enamel clean.

When you swish with coconut oil, it softens the sticky tar buildup on your enamel and pulls out the bacteria that thrive in it. Not only does this help whiten your teeth, but it also removes the germs that could cause gum disease. This is especially important after you quit smoking since tar and nicotine weaken the skin and blood vessels of the gums.

To use this treatment, mix together a teaspoon of salt with two tablespoons of coconut oil. Then, swish the oily solution in your mouth for about five minutes. After spitting it out, brush your teeth with your normal toothpaste, or you can use the homemade one discussed in the next section.

Brush Your Teeth with Baking Soda and Peroxide

This next home treatment takes advantage of the chemical reaction caused when baking soda and peroxide are mixed together. Alone, the baking soda helps restore your tooth enamel's pH levels, while the peroxide removes the stains and bacteria. When they are mixed together, the toothpaste foams up to ensure your reach every crevice on the surfaces of your teeth.

To make the toothpaste, mix together equal parts of the two ingredients, usually about a teaspoon each. However, do not make the paste ahead of time, as it is most potent after the baking soda and peroxide are mixed together.

Brush your teeth as you normally do, except try to add a few minutes to make sure you completely scrub away the surface stains. Repeat this treatment twice a day for one to two weeks to start seeing a noticeable difference in the color of your teeth.

Apply Lemon Juice to Your Teeth

This home whitening remedy utilizes the acetic acid in lemon juice to bleach away the nicotine and tar stains. To apply this treatment, you can either rub a fresh lemon on your teeth or use bottled lemon juice found in supermarkets. 

Once you have applied the juice, leave it on for two minutes, then rinse your mouth with warm water. Brush your teeth thoroughly to ensure you remove all of the juice.

However, if you have gum disease or already have some deterioration of your teeth's enamel, you should talk to your dentist about using lemon juice as a tooth whitening treatment. While the same acidity can help remove stains caused by smoking, it could also cause damage to your already compromised teeth and gums.

Even if your mouth is healthy enough to use the lemon juice, do not leave it on for longer than recommended. Also, do not use this treatment more than twice a week. The strength of the lemon's acid may start breaking down your tooth enamel if the juice is allowed to remain on the teeth for too long or if it is used too often.

Using the above tips can help remove some of the stains caused by smoking. However, if you are unable to restore the brightness of your smile, make an appointment with your dentist so they can examine your mouth and discuss your options for having your teeth professionally whitened.