Effects of Smoking on Oral Health
Most of us are aware of the fact what a havoc smoking can create to our lives. Smoking can cause various medical problems and at times; fatal disease; not only this, it can also effect your mouth, gum and teeth. The effects of smoking to your lungs, heart and other organs may not be visible to you initially but a dentist can detect the evidence in your mouth.
Smokers can develop any of the following oral health problems including:
- Bad breath
- Tooth discoloration
- Increased calculus (tartar) build-up
- Rapidly progressing and severe periodontal diseases
- Loss of Jaw Bone
- Increased risk of developing leukoplakia; white patches in the mouth
- More missing teeth and mouth sores
- Delayed healing after the tooth extraction process or any oral surgery and periodontal treatment
- Increased risk of cavities and sinusitis
- Hairy tongue and smoker’s lip
- Decreased success rate of dental implant processes
- Higher chances of developing oral cancer
- Difficulty in the correcting cosmetic dental problems
- Decreased sense of taste and smell
- Heightened sensitivity to hot and cold
- Breathing difficulties or smoker’s cough
How can smoking lead to Gum Disease?
Smokers have higher chances of developing gum diseases than the non-smokers. It is clinically known and proved that tobacco decreases the blood flow to gums and as well deprive them of oxygen and nutrients that help them to stay healthy thus exposing them to bacterial infections.
Moreover the gritty material in the tobacco products works as sand paper against your teeth and damage your tooth enamel. According to a study made in the U.S., smoking is a signification factor leading to severe gum disease in the adults. If untreated; periodontal diseases can result in the complete damage of teeth supporting tissues, abscesses and ultimately leading to tooth loss.
How does smoking lead to oral cancer?
Most of the people know that smoking can lead to lungs and throat cancer but it is also the one of the main causes of oral cancer as well. The carcinogenic chemicals contained in the cigarettes, cigars and pipe cause and initiate oral cancer. These chemicals lead to genetic changes in the cells of mouth cavity; thus leading to oral cancer.
What are the dental hygiene tips for the smokers to improve Oral Health?
The foremost and most important dental hygiene tip is quit smoking for the better oral health. Apart from this and given to all the risks and complications that smoking can develop; the smokers should:
- Go for regular check-ups with your dentists as they can detect the signs of any developing oral health problems like; gum diseases or oral cancers.
- Regular professional cleanings can also be beneficial for the smokers
- Smokers should brush & floss regularly and should use a tongue cleaner and mouthwash on regular basis
- Smokers should choose a toothbrush with bristles that can remove the tobacco strains and the one that can reach the difficult areas at the back of gums
- Smokers should use special toothpastes that are specifically made for them as they are stronger to clean the bacteria
- In order to fight bad breath, use mouthwashes targeted specifically for the smokers.
- Smokers should also avoid the foods that can stain teeth and as well the foods that are highly acidic because such foods can cause further damage to tooth enamel and can cause cavities
Men and women of all age-groups experience immediate and major health benefits after quitting smoking. Quitting will lessen the chances of gum diseases, oral cancer, tooth loss & bone loss and will make your teeth whiter & stronger.
Contact Aesthetic Dental Arts York, PA for the skilled and state-of-art detection and treatment of any of your oral health related problem. We use industry-leading and minimally invasive techniques and technologies to treat and prevent any oral health related issues and make your smile shinier and brighter.
