There are many things that will happen when you quit smoking. You'll probably start enjoying having healthier lungs for one, not to mention appreciating all the money you'll save. There's one thing anyone who has made the (incredibly wise) decision to quit smoking should do, and that's to make an appointment for a professional dental cleaning. But how does this relate to your former habit?

The Color of Your Teeth

It's hard for a smoker to have white teeth. This makes sense, and any teeth whitening efforts you may have attempted will have delivered less than satisfactory results, or results that fade with a surprising speed. Your dental enamel was continually exposed to the discoloration effects of the tar and nicotine in each cigarette, leading to that telltale yellow smile that many smokers have. Of course, your exposure to these staining agents is now at an end, meaning your efforts to keep your teeth white have a far greater chance of success.

Removing Extrinsic Discoloration

Professional cleaning has more intensive options and can include scaling and polishing your teeth. Even if you weren't planning to whiten them, your dentist's efforts will remove a significant amount of the extrinsic staining on your dental enamel. Your teeth will look healthier, which is appropriate since you're probably already feeling healthier. Dental cleaning is also a valuable weapon in the fight against gingivitis, which is especially relevant for those who have recently stopped smoking.

Gingivitis After You've Quit Smoking

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums, generally caused by the accumulation of bacteria-rich plaque and tartar on the teeth (and this tartar can only be removed by professional dental cleaning). Smokers may not realize the extent of their gingivitis. Due to your habit, you may have been spared the typical bleeding gums that are a key symptom of the condition. Smoking reduces blood circulation to the gums, and when its effects are removed from your system, blood circulation to your gums is restored to normal levels, and your bleeding can suddenly escalate. This increase is only temporary, however, a professional dental cleaning can minimize its severity. 

Giving up smoking is about the best thing you can do for your body (including your dental health). Professional dental cleaning as part of a thorough checkup is a fantastic and fairly simple way to quickly restore your teeth to their pre-smoking former selves, which is certainly something to smile about.

For more information on dental cleaning, contact a company like Family Dentistry of Woodstock.