Advice From The Coral Springs Dentist: Smoking And Your Oral Health

By Author: Michael Smith
Total Articles: 43
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The link between smoking and a myriad of potentially fatal health issues is well documented in medical literature. It is well understood that tobacco-use leads to a whole host of terrible whole body afflictions, including respiratory disease, cancer, diabetes and pregnancy complications. But what about your oral health? While it is known that smoking increases your risk of periodontal (gum) disease, says the Coral Springs dentist, few people really understand this connection. For instance, did you know that tobacco-use causes xerostomia (dry mouth)? And that this condition leaves your teeth and gums exponentially more vulnerable to the onslaught of bacteria? Few people truly understand how smoking puts their oral health at risk, say professionals in Coral Springs dentistry, which makes it easier to remove oneself psychologically from the consequences. Well, this paucity in understanding ends here today.
Coral Springs Dentistry: The Hazards of Smoking for Your Oral Health
Tobacco-use affects your oral health in many different ways, explains the Coral Springs dentist. These can be inter-related:
Smoking and Dry ...
... Mouth: As it was mentioned above, tobacco-use causes xerostomia. Saliva is not only produced to aid in digestion, say professionals in Coral Springs dentistry; the enzymes in your sputum actually fight off the bad bacteria in the mouth. Without that protective film of saliva, your teeth and gums are at a much greater risk of these micro-organisms, which means cavities, dental caries and gum infection and disease. In the long term, says the Coral Springs dentist, smoking and dry mouth can lead to the development of chronic and acute bacterial infections of the gums surrounding the teeth and the underlying jaw bone: a condition referred to as periodontitis.
Smoking and Oral Healing: Smoking thickens the blood, says the Coral Springs dentist, which impedes its flow to the teeth and gums. This not only slows the rate of healing in the mouth (which is a huge problem when considering the need for oral surgery and the placement of dental implants), but without a normal supply of nutrients to the teeth and gums, it also renders them weaker and more vulnerable to bacteria.
Smoking and Oral Inflammation: Smoking irritates the soft tissues in the mouth, including the buccal lining (inner cheeks), the gingiva (gums), the tongue and the hard and soft palate. The body’s response to this irritation is inflammation, explain professionals in Coral Springs dentistry. And, of course, chronic inflammation increases your risk of developing cancerous growths and sores.
Smoking and Tooth Discoloration: Oddly enough, the effect of tobacco-use smokers are most concerned about – stained teeth - is the least dangerous as far as your oral health is concern, remarks the Coral Springs dentist. Smoking in the long term leads to the accumulation of nicotine stains on the enamel of the teeth, turning their natural pearly white hue to a far less attractive shade of yellow, brown and even grey. The overall aesthetic effect is highly undesirable, say professionals in Coral Springs dentistry, which is why so many smokers end up requiring teeth whitening treatments and cosmetic restorations, such as porcelain veneers.
A Final Note from the Coral Springs Dentist
If it was easy to quit tobacco-use, there would be far fewer smokers in the world. The fact of the matter is that smoking is a psychological addiction, more than a physical one, which makes it that much more difficult to quit. Just remember, advise Coral Springs dentistry professionals; smoking and tobacco-use shortens your life substantially. And with tooth discoloration, gum infection, cancer, tooth loss and oral disease being a result of this terrible habit, the downward spiral isn’t that much fun either.
The moral of this story: do what it takes to quit today.