Smoking and Oral Health

Most of us know that smoking is injurious to health. But did you know that it also impacts your dental health? Smoking can lead to dental problems such as:

• Bad breath
• Tooth discoloration
• Inflammation of salivary gland
• Increase in buildup of plaque and tartar
• Risk of developing Gum Disease
• Delay in healing after tooth extraction
• Lower success rate of dental implant procedure
• Increase risk of oral cancer

How Does Smoking Lead to Gum Disease?

Smoking and other tobacco products can lead to gum diseases by affecting the bone and soft tissue of your teeth says the dentist near you. Smoking interferes with normal function of gum tissue cells. This makes smokers more susceptible to infections such as periodontal diseases and impairs the blood flow to the gums which affects wound healing.

Do Pipe and Cigar Smoking Cause Dental Problems?

Cigarettes, pipes, and cigars lead to dental issues such as tooth loss or bone loss. The cigar and pipe smokers experience dental issues at a rate that is equivalent to cigarette smokers. Apart from that pipe and cigar smokers are also at risk of oral and pharyngeal cancers along with bad breath, stained teeth and increased risk of gum disease.

Are Smokeless Tobacco Products Safer?

They are not safe, just because they don’t produce smoke. They have been shown to increase the risk of oral cancer, cancer, of throat, an esophagus. It can irritate your gum tissue, causing them to recede or pull away from the teeth. Also, sugars added to enhance the flavors can increase the risk of tooth decay.

How Can I Quit Tobacco?

Irrespective of how long you have been consuming tobacco in any form, quitting will only help in reducing the risk of oral diseases. To stop using tobacco, the dentist may be able to help you in calming the nicotine cravings with medications such as nicotine gum and patches. Some of these products can be bought OTC and others need a prescription. Smoking cessation classes and support groups along with drug therapy can help in getting rid of the habit of smoking.