Whether it's your own wedding or you're simply a guest, one thing is for sure: you want to look great in the wedding photos. If you're a smoker, you might have issues with your teeth. After years of smoking, your teeth may be stained, you might have a number of cavities that need addressing, or even a missing tooth.
Another situation you might encounter is bad breath (halitosis), which isn't visible in a picture but can be smelled and may spoil your mood. Or, it could even be a gum infection. Using tobacco in any form increases the risk of suffering from gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis).
What does this mean for you if you are a smoker?
Smoking weakens the immune system, making it harder for it to fight gum infections. Once you have gum damage and disease, smoking makes it harder and slower for your gums to heal.
As highlighted by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smokers are twice as likely to suffer from gum disease as non-smokers. Treatments for gum disease may not work as well for people who smoke.
How to have white and sparkling teeth for your wedding, even if you're a smoker
Fortunately, you have time to improve the appearance of your teeth and can do so before your wedding if you follow the recommendations below.
1. Give up smoking
The best advice for improving the appearance and health of your teeth is to quit smoking. Of course, quitting smoking is not always easy or simple to achieve. However, if you ultimately do not abandon the goal of quitting before your wedding date, you will notice a remarkable improvement in the appearance of your teeth, as well as in your overall health.
Tobacco poses the greatest threat to your health, particularly as smoking can be linked to the development of oral cancer. The American Cancer Society reports that approximately 90% of people with oral cancer and certain types of throat cancer were smokers. The risk of developing these types of cancer increases if people smoke or chew tobacco more frequently or for longer periods.
Smokers are six times more likely than non-smokers to develop these types of cancer.
Approximately 37% of patients who continue to smoke after cancer treatment will develop a second cancer of the mouth, throat or larynx, whilst only 6% of those who give up smoking will develop these secondary cancers.
2. Address your gum problems.
As well as changing the colour of your teeth, smoking can increase your risk of gum disease. When you smoke, remember that you could also suffer from a change in the structure and consistency of your gums. Before you focus on the superficial details of your teeth, it's a good idea to address any structural or medical problems that are currently affecting your dental health.
Arrange a visit to the dental surgery to begin repairing your cavities. If you have severe gum recession, your dentist may recommend a gum grafting procedure to cover the roots of your teeth. Depending on the severity of your dental conditions, you may even need to have a tooth extracted and replaced with a dental implant.
3. Consider teeth whitening
Your smoking habit may not have caused serious dental issues, but it has contributed to the yellowing of your teeth or the appearance of stains. Certain types of teeth whitening products can help you avoid a yellow smile in your wedding photos, as long as the stains are extrinsic, meaning on the outside of your teeth.
Before starting a teeth whitening treatment, discuss your teeth whitening goals with your dentist. They can recommend the best whitening option for you, whether it's an in-chair treatment or an over-the-counter product.
4. Maintain good oral hygiene
Once you've quit smoking, repaired the damage tobacco has done to your teeth, and achieved a brighter, whiter smile, you'll want to maintain it long after the wedding cake has been eaten. A good at-home oral care routine should include brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing at least once a day. Doing both of these regularly will help protect the appearance and health of your teeth, minimise your risk of gum disease, extend the lifespan of any whitening treatments, and reduce the risk of future cavities and other dental problems.
Quitting smoking can be difficult. However, when you have a strong goal in mind to improve your smile before an important event, such as a wedding, then it may be easier to give up your habit of smoking and focus on your oral health.
Your wedding day is one of the happiest days of your life. Make sure your smile is as radiant and natural as possible, with whiter and brighter teeth. We are here to help you!
Bibliography
http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/basics/threats-to-dental-health/article/how-to-fix-smokers-teeth-0416