How long do the "side effects" of smoking last? You know, stained teeth, stained hands, bad breath, all that stuff — how long does it take, after you quit smoking, for those side effects to go away? Thank you very much.
It might be a good time to add:
I DON'T SMOKE AND AREN'T PLANNING TO START!
Why do so many people assume that, if you ask a question, it must be directly relating to you and/or you must be in that situation? Sheesh. *shakes head*
Stained teeth - not all smokers have them, but if you do you probably need to take care of them after you quit smoking, like use whitening toothpaste or go to the dentist.
Stained hands - depends on how stained they are, usually happens after a long night of studying when one was really nervous and smoked almost all the time… 1 to 2 days for the stains to disappear.
Bad breath - 1 to 2 days, if you didn't smoke today you won't wake up with the same bad breath you usually have in the morning tomorrow.
But these are not among the worst side effects of smoking. There are so many other ones. When I quit smoking, for example, it took me around a month to start sensing smells around me again and to realize how much perfume I used; my appetite increased really bad so I had to spend 2 hours in the gym every day running as crazy so I didn't gain too much weight; my stomach always felt swollen; I couldn't concentrate when I was studying; I didn't know what to do with my hands when I was sitting in a restaurant or anywhere else and looking at other people smoking in front of me made me really nervous, etc.
No matter what, quitting is the best thing you can do for your health! So do it and don't think too much of the side effects.
August 16th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
I think it depends on how long you were on the habit, and the amount of damage it has done.
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August 16th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
They will last as long as you smoke! Yes they will go away when you quit smoking.
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August 16th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
The teeth will be stained and that's that. Smelliness stops when you shower the first time i would assume
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August 16th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
The teeth never go away. You have to bleach them. As for the old thinking that after time your lungs repair themself, that is not true. Stained hands will go away with time as your skin renews itself. The bad breathe should go away quickly I think.
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August 16th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
it doesnt go away… unless you use whitening for your teeth, mint for your breath. Lung always gray!!!!!
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August 16th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Just worry about the big one! DEATH!!!!!
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August 16th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
It varies. If you've been smoking long enough, your teeth will be permanently stained, but stuff like bad breath will likely go away in a week or so if you brush your teeth and stuff like that regularly.
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August 16th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Those will probably go away in a week or so. The more important side effects, like, death, are quite permanent.
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August 16th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
as far as the physical effects, they say once you hit the 7 year mark, your lungs will never heal.
as far as teeth go, once you quit, they will get whiter and whiter and stay that way.
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August 16th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Stained teeth–until you get your teeth whitened again. Stained hands–until you either get your hands bleached or your body and skin has the chance to rid your system of tar and nicotine which takes considerably longer–for some, months. Likewise, your breathe depends on oral hygiene and what you eat, drink and otherwise imbibe in. If you drink alot of coffee, soda, alcohol, etc. or eat alot of spicy, fatty or strong-acting foods in the body, body odor and bad breathe can last a lifetime.
So, its always wise after quitting a habit like smoking–especially if it was a long term habit–to do something of a body cleanse. It doesn't have to be dramatic or stripping to the body. Something as simple as cutting out caffeine, pop and artifical dyes and flavors for a couple weeks and replacing them with natural fruit juices, herbal teas (even iced!) and water can have a significant effect on how fast the body processes out the leftover toxins.
Do be aware, though, that it takes time for the body to process out the lung-based waste. The damage that smoking does to the lungs takes alot of time to rehabilitate–if you've been smoking for years, be aware it will take years to heal, though you'll feel better within 2-6 months. Deep breathing exercises designed to fully work the lungs–much like a vocalist would use–are tremendously helpful in breaking up phlegm and keeping the lungs productively flushing all the stuff you're trying to get rid of. However, it IS possible to regain function! It works as well as the work you put into getting well. The more detailed, the quicker it will happen…the less you do, the less quickly you'll heal.
Good luck!
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August 16th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
i think forever.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=A0WTc7JRtcRGvWsABBDsy6IX?qid=20070816133315AAuyB3C
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August 16th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Stained teeth - not all smokers have them, but if you do you probably need to take care of them after you quit smoking, like use whitening toothpaste or go to the dentist.
Stained hands - depends on how stained they are, usually happens after a long night of studying when one was really nervous and smoked almost all the time… 1 to 2 days for the stains to disappear.
Bad breath - 1 to 2 days, if you didn't smoke today you won't wake up with the same bad breath you usually have in the morning tomorrow.
But these are not among the worst side effects of smoking. There are so many other ones. When I quit smoking, for example, it took me around a month to start sensing smells around me again and to realize how much perfume I used; my appetite increased really bad so I had to spend 2 hours in the gym every day running as crazy so I didn't gain too much weight; my stomach always felt swollen; I couldn't concentrate when I was studying; I didn't know what to do with my hands when I was sitting in a restaurant or anywhere else and looking at other people smoking in front of me made me really nervous, etc.
No matter what, quitting is the best thing you can do for your health! So do it and don't think too much of the side effects.
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August 16th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Why would you smoke if you know there are bad side effects?
It's not like you gain anything by smoking… it costs money, stinks, stains you and the things around you, is bad for your lungs and throat, proves you're stupid when people see you smoking anyway, etc. etc.
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