You know that smoking is bad for your overall health, so it shouldn’t be too surprising that it’s also bad for your oral health. Here are just a few of the ways tobacco use can harm your oral health.
WHAT ARE THE ORAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS OF TOBACCO USE?
When you use tobacco, you are subjecting your mouth to a host of oral health risks. These symptoms can be as mild as bad breath or as severe as oral cancer. Other oral health issues that can be caused by tobacco use include stained teeth, a dulled sense of smell and taste, difficulty in ability to correct cosmetic dental issues, inflammation of the salivary gland openings, a loss of bone in your jaw, slow healing after dental surgery or extractions, an increase in tartar and plaque buildup, and gum disease. Smoking interferes with the normal function of gum tissue cells and smokers are more susceptible to infections due to this interference. Tobacco use also impairs blood flow to gums, which affects your mouth’s ability to heal wounds.
WHAT KINDS OF TOBACCO USE CAUSE ORAL HEALTH PROBLEMS?
While your first thought might be a cigarette, there are many other tobacco products that cause oral health issues. People who smoke cigars or use a pipe to smoke can experience tooth and jawbone loss at the same rate as those who smoke cigarettes. Pipe and cigar smokers have a high risk for bad breath, stained teeth, gum disease, and oral and throat cancers. Tobacco products that are smokeless such as chewing tobacco and snuff contain higher levels of nicotine than cigarettes and irritate gum tissue, which causes your gums to recede. When your gums recede from your teeth, your roots become exposed and this leads to a higher risk of decay. Smokeless tobacco is also often flavored with sugars, which contributes to an increased risk of cavities.
HOW CAN A TOBACCO USER PROTECT THEIR ORAL HEALTH?
The only real way for a tobacco user to reduce their risk of oral health problems is to stop using tobacco altogether. According to the American Cancer Society, 90% of people with cancer of the lips, tongue, throat, and mouth use tobacco. Smokers are also six times more likely to develop these types of cancers than nonsmokers. There are many resources to help you kick the habit including smoking cessation classes and support groups, nicotine patches and gum, herbal remedies, and even hypnosis.
Protect your oral health and stop using tobacco today. Call us to schedule a regular cleaning and checkup and to learn more about how you can stop smoking and get a healthy smile.
