Have you noticed?
By emeraldisle
@emeraldisle (13139)
United States
April 12, 2008 5:15pm CST
I've responded to many discussions about smoking and cigarettes. It never fails in one of them someone posts that smokers have "yellow teeth and nails". 
Now I would like to know from smokers and those who know a lot of smokers have you ever noticed this or had a problem with this happening?
I know for myself I have been smoking for almost twenty years and I have never had yellow teeth or nails. In fact my dentists have always said how white my teeth are and no I do not whiten them at all. My nails are also very nice looking and white. I've known many smokers over the years and none of them have ever had yellow teeth or nails.
So why is it that someone always seems to make this comment? Where does this come from?
Now I would like to know from smokers and those who know a lot of smokers have you ever noticed this or had a problem with this happening?
I know for myself I have been smoking for almost twenty years and I have never had yellow teeth or nails. In fact my dentists have always said how white my teeth are and no I do not whiten them at all. My nails are also very nice looking and white. I've known many smokers over the years and none of them have ever had yellow teeth or nails.
So why is it that someone always seems to make this comment? Where does this come from?14 people like this
22 responses
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
12 Apr 08
my mom has yellow nails on the one hand-but i think that's only because she holds more than she smokes.
and she smokes a lot.
her teeth are white,however.
i've never had yellow teeth or nails either.
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
12 Apr 08
Heheh I know how that goes with holding more then you smoke, I've had that happen. I wonder though if it's caused by that or something else.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
12 Apr 08
i've wondered that too.
only thing else i can think of is maybe her coffee.
her hand shakes a bit holding the cup,so it seems reasonable it might be caffiene stain.
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
14 Apr 08
I can certianly imagine coffee staining. I've seen a little coffee stain things and not come out no matter how hard it's been scrubbed.
1 person likes this
@mmiller26 (1930)
• Canada
13 Apr 08
I've never noticed a smoker having yellow teeth or nails, but I will say that when I used to clean my dad's office (that he smoked in all day), his desk and phone and walls had a yellowish film on them. I'd clean it all off, and the following week it would all be back again. So there is something to it. Yuck.
He had a heart attack last month, so he finally quit.
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
14 Apr 08
Anything can cause a film on things as Perry pointed out coffee stains a cup and it isn't always easy to get off. And as you pointed out you never noticed a smoker having it. So perhaps it doesn't cause it as some would think.
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
13 Apr 08
I think its more that old people get yellow nails and teeth than smokers so much. Im sure the cigs dont help but if you take care of both I think the yellow can be prevented. And you wouldnt have to quit smoking lol. But smokers do stink but wait so do old people hehehe.
1 person likes this
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
13 Apr 08
Showers are so over rated anyways.
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
14 Apr 08
Hehehe that they can be but so can baths :) Glad to see you have a sense of humor.
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
13 Apr 08
I don't stink. I take a shower every May 
and even sometimes in September but only when absolutely necessary.1 person likes this
@lifeiseasy (2292)
• United States
14 Apr 08
lol this is a funny discussion I love it ... as you can see from my picture I have white teeth and yes I am a smoker too . I started back in high school when it was "really cool " to smoke . Sure wish I had of never started now but live and learn. As for the yellow nails nope don;t have have that either. But I have seen the popcorn ceilings where people have smoked in their homes and they were very yellowed from the smoke .
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
15 Apr 08
Well I didn't start to be cool but I know what you mean. I do know nicotine can get on things as can smoke but I've never had a problem with washing it off easily enough. That's why I can't understand whey they say it stains it permantantly the way they do.
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
12 May 08
I agree, I think it's more of them taking care of their teeth or not and smoking has little to do with that.
1 person likes this
@SweetVanillaKisses (173)
• Canada
13 Apr 08
I think it's because some older people that cannot take care of themselves properly that smoke have these issues. I myself have been a smoker for 13 yrs and have never had a problem with either of them. If you don't brush your teeth or wash your hands then maybe but I have never had this problem as I brush my teeth daily and wash my hands as needed and sometimes more lol
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
13 Apr 08
Exactly. I don't think it has anything to do with being a smoker so much as the persons normal hygiene. They have the yellow teeth and/or nails due to not washing or brushing their teeth and it would happen whether they are a smoker or not.
@SweetVanillaKisses (173)
• Canada
14 Apr 08
Yeppers thats exactly it. If your a pig than no matter if you smoke or not your gonna start to look like one in my opinion. LOL
1 person likes this
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
13 Apr 08
I've been smoking for 30 yrs now and yes I do have yellow teeth (yea gross I know) BUT I dont think its from just smoking....being homeless, poor, an addict and heavy coffee drinker ALL have to do with it...Yet I've not had a cavity in well over 20 yrs LOL go fig...So can I say that the yellowness is from smoking...no..not completely...in fact I'd blame it MORE on the addiction really which is also why my skin went bad after I got clean...As for my nails...no they arent yellow or weak..in fact i actually have quite nice nails..well I did before I snapped a couple this past week 
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
14 Apr 08
I can believe that a variety of things caused it and by the sound of it your body has had a lot of wear and tear. I can believe the fact about the cavity. I didn't have a cavity at all till I started using fluoride toothpaste. Once I did I got them over and over. I now just use water to brush.
I know what you mean on the nails. I broke one last week myself 
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
13 Apr 08
I have been smoking for over 40 years and do not have yellow teeth, nails, breathing or lung problems. So put that in your pipe and smoke it!
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
14 Apr 08
I can think of a lot better things to smoke on. Glad to hear though you don't have those issues either. Nice to know we aren't alone.
@Bizziebod (3497)
•
6 May 08
I have seen some people with yellow nails from smoking, but not many and a lot of my friends smoke! You usually find the ones with yellow teeth would have yellow teeth regardless of if they smoked!
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
7 May 08
Exactly! The people I have known with yellow teeth didn't smoke actually. I think it's just a matter of they would have it in either case but some want to blame it on the smoking.
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
13 Apr 08
You are very lucky. In most cases it is true. I don't have the yellow nails but I have when I was a heavier smoker. I quit for a long time and started up. My dentist told me that my cleanings would be quicker and easier if I didn't smoke because of the tartar buildup in between visits. It is a pretty common proble. Like I said...you are lucky.
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
14 Apr 08
You are the first to say they've had this problem. I'm wondering if it isn't something else causing it or since you have bad tartar buildup if that isn't problem.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
13 Apr 08
That is strange, must be something you are doing because my teeth did get yellow and my nails, though maybe not yellow, they were dull in color..Since I quit about 5 years ago, the color has improved greatly..1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
14 Apr 08
I brush my teeth occasionally with water only (Fluoride toothpaste gave me cavities) and judging from the other posts most seem not to have a problem with yellow teeth or nails.
1 person likes this
@britany_renee (156)
• United States
13 Apr 08
I have heard this too, but I am a smoker and have very white teeth and healthy nails too. No, I don't whiten my teeth, just brush them on a regular basis. My Husband smokes, has white teeth and nails. My mom, nana, and aunt all smoke and, again, all have white teeth and nails. So I don't know where this comes from. If you take care of yourself then you can avoid these problems
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
14 Apr 08
Most seem to agree that they haven't had a problem. I'm think it's more genetic then anything else. It could be smoking doesn't help it any but I don't think it's the cause.
@foundmyangel (607)
• United States
13 Apr 08
because they seen one person who smoked with yellow teeth and nails and now just like the human race everyone is that way. its kinda a racial slure don't you think?
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
14 Apr 08
It does sound like it. It's a sterotypic response and they assume it applies to everyone when in truth it seems to be a problem for very few.
@cane2008 (34)
• United States
13 Apr 08
I have never had a problem with this maybe the yellow teethe thing has to do with people who smoke and don't brush their teeth but I have always been told i have good teeth. and as far as fingernails go mine aren't yellow but because i work in a welding shop i do have lots of burns on them.
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
14 Apr 08
Ouch those sound painful but I guess it's one of the hazards of the job. Glad to hear though you don't have a problem with yellowing either.
@deeeky (3667)
• Edinburgh, Scotland
14 Apr 08
The yellow that you speak of is nicotine.
If you smoke inside then the nicotine goes and builds up all around the house and discolours evetthing so that the walls have to be painted and the furnishings such as curtains have to be cleaned or thrown away.
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
15 Apr 08
We aren't talking about walls or furniture but about teeth and finger nails. Some seem to think that all smokers have yellow teeth and finger nails, yet most who are posting in here who smoke don't have that problem.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
28 Aug 08
I have been a smopker for about 20 years also and I do not have yellow teeth and fingernails either. I think smokers that do have that, never brush their teeth very often of wash their hands so the nicotine stains them.
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
16 Aug 08
Hello emeraldisle. You are lucky not to have yellow teeth and nails, but I have some colleagues who smoke a lot with yellow teeth and nails. It doesn't look so good on them.
@moneyandgc (3428)
• United States
13 Apr 08
I am not a smoker, I have never smoked. I have heard this said many times. My mom has been a smoker since she was 14. Her teeth are as white as someones who has them whitened. Her dentist has always commented on how white and clean they are. They actually told her to stop brushing so hard and to change to a softer toothbrush because they were afraid she would damage her enamel.
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
13 Apr 08
I can picture the dentist saying that. I have to be careful when I brush my teeth due to fluoride actually damaging them. Basically it does the opposite of what it should do so when I brush I just use plain water and mine are nice and white.
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
13 Apr 08
This could be because you don't smoke too much or your friends are casual smokers? Also a lot of smokers chew gum after they smoke and that helps to clean their teeth and minimise some of the staining. Some of the staining is not seen when you smile but is on the other side of the tooth, so maybe you just have not noticed it altogether.
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
13 Apr 08
I smoke a pack a day right now and at one point I was up to two packs a day (if not more) so I'd say I smoke a fair amount. I don't chew gum at all. If it is on the other side how is that people can see it and say "that smokers have yellow teeth"? That doesn't make much sense.
@rhane7315 (5649)
• Philippines
13 Apr 08
my brother and his girlfriend smokes like a chimney but they also don't have a yellow teeth and nails as far as i'm concerned
1 person likes this
