By Arthur Kezian
Tobacco products are known to be very harmful. Everyone knows the effect they have on the lungs and the heart, but what a lot of people don’t know is that it is far more than that. Smoking also affects your bones, vision, blood, and autoimmune system. Smoking can also cause cancer of the lungs, stomach, nose, mouth, throat, and other areas of the body. Smoking can also cause dental problems. If you are a smoker and think it is important to take care of your body as well as pay importance to your dental care, then maybe it is time you not only consider quitting, but try your best to quit.
Smoking leads to dental health problems such as:
- An increase of dental plaque on your teeth
- An increased risk of gum disease
- An increased risk of developing oral cancer
- Inflammation of your salivary glands
- Constant bad breath
- Tooth discoloration and staining
The list above just goes to show how smoking can affect your dental health in so many ways. One main danger that tobacco products can bring is oral cancer; about 90% of people who have oral cancer use or have used tobacco. It is said that smokers are six times more likely to get oral cancer than nonsmokers. If you think your health is important, then quitting smoking will benefit you in so many ways. Even reducing the amount you smoke can help you. Smokers who go from smoking a pack a day to less than half a pack a day reduce their risk of getting oral cancer or gum disease. Ask your dentist about some helpful tips on reducing smoking and taking small steps to quitting.
Another danger that tobacco products can bring is the increase of gum disease as it is harmful to your gum tissue cells. Smoking affects the connection of your bones and your soft tissue to your teeth. This makes smokers more prone to getting infections in the mouth, such as gingivitis. This is a mild form of gum disease that only affects the gums, and if not taken care of, can lead to periodontitis. Periodontitis is a more severe form of gum disease which causes the gums to pull away from the teeth. This gum recession causes deep pockets where bacteria can reside; this bacteria can damage the bone that supports your teeth. Overtime, your teeth will get loose because of the lack of support and will have to be pulled out or will fall out on their own. It is important to prevent this from happening. Having routine check-ups with your dentist is crucial, especially if you are a chain-smoker.
Apart from the damage cigarettes can do to your oral health, they also cause damage esthetically. If you care about the looks of your teeth, then smoking is something you should try to do without. For many people, smoker stains are a very common side-effect. Whitening your teeth or using toothpastes with whiteners can change the look of your teeth, but if you continue to smoke and do not get the stains cleaned by your dentist, the whitening will only mask the staining.
Quitting smoking will also cure bad breath. Many smokers experience a specific odor that may bug them and others as well. It is a very unpleasant feeling knowing that the people around you can be affected by your breath. Not only is your breath a problem to them, but they are also inhaling second-hand smoke. Think about your overall health and your dental care as well and consider quitting if you haven’t already. If you can’t quit for yourself, maybe you can try to quit for the sake of the people around you. You will be doing yourself, your family, your friends, and everyone else you spend time with a great favor!
Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777