How Smoking Affects Your Oral Health

By Author: Brite Dental
Total Articles: 4
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We all know how smoking is bad for our health. It’s no doubt a bad habit that leads to a lot of health complications. Most people also know it to be damaging to our respiratory health. However, one of the things that smoking also negatively affects is our oral health.

When you smoke, you’re also damaging your teeth and gums. Here are four reasons that show such consequences:

1. It will lead to the build-up of plaque and tartar in your teeth. Cigarettes and tobacco products have chemicals that affect the saliva flow in your mouth. It will, in turn, make it easier for oral bacteria to stick to your teeth and gums. Thus, leading to the formation of bacteria-laden plaque.

 
Hence, it should be removed daily because otherwise, it will harden into tartar or calculus. It is a substance that will require professional cleaning. Those who are constant smokers are three to six times more likely to develop gum disease or also called periodontal disease. It attacks the roots and will cause your teeth to fall out.

2. It is associated with gum or periodontal disease. This illness ...
... is caused by an infection of your gums, and it might even affect your bone structure. When the disease worsens, it causes your gums to pull away from your teeth, which will then cause spaces to be formed. These spaces will then lead to an infection. Smoking might lead to this disease because when you inhale tobacco products, you weaken your body’s immune system.

 
3. It will interfere with your blood circulation. One of the things that make smoking such a dangerous thing for your oral health is that it will disturb the normal function of your gum tissue. It will give rise to infections and restrict your blood flow. That’s why it is also advisable to refrain from smoking after oral surgery because it delays healing and the recovery process. For smokers, they might notice their gums bleeding when they brush or floss.

4. It is one of the leading causes of oral cancer. According to research, about 90% of those diagnosed with cancer of the throat, lips and mouth  are due to smoking. Moreover, smokers have a higher chance of getting oral cancers than non-smokers.

5. It will give you stained or yellow teeth and bad breath.
If you use tobacco regularly, it can lead to teeth discolouration. The amount of smoke will also affect how discolorued your teeth will be. For those who constantly smoke, it is important to get tooth whitening if you can’t avoid smoking.

Conclusion

It’s important for those who frequently smoke to get help from dentists or to brush their teeth properly daily. At Brite Dental, we can help you take care of your teeth and protect it from smoking’s aftermaths with our preventive dentistry While we recommend to quit the habit, we also know how it isn’t that easy to do. So, come and schedule a consultation with our dentist to know your dental care options!