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Many health care professionals warn about the dangers of smoking, but did you know that smoking is just as bad for your teeth than any other part of your body? In short, there are various problems smoking can cause, such as preventing your mouth’s natural defences to fight infections, which creates a breeding ground for bacteria that are produced when you smoke. When your mouth can’t neutralise the threat, which causes plaque and bacteria to form even faster, this leads to tooth decay and even bone structure problems. But that’s not all smoking does.
Here are the effects smoking has on your teeth:
It discolours your teeth
One of the hallmarks of a regular smoker is teeth that are stained or yellow. The staining is as a result of chemicals in the tobacco that adhere to your teeth’s enamel.
Yes, you can offset the staining process by going for teeth whitening treatments, but this is a temporary solution, and if you don’t stop smoking, it will resume after time.
Bad Breath
Cigarette particles remain in the mouth long after a cigarette is finished, which causes bad breath, both in the short- and long-term.
Unfortunately, no amount of brushing or mouthwash will get rid of the smell, because its origin may be gum disease, oral sores, or other forms of decay. The only real way to turn things around is to stop smoking entirely and work with a dentist to manage the underlying issues smoking had caused.
Gum Disease
As we mentioned earlier, smoking prevents your mouth’s bacteria-fighting abilities, which in turn allows an increasing amount of bacteria to form on your teeth which will eventually move to your gums.
If this situation is left untreated, your gums may pull away from the teeth which will cause the supporting bone to become weak. In worst-case scenarios, this will cause periodontitis, where the tissue and bone that hold your teeth secure start to break down, which can result in your teeth starting to fall out.
Delayed Healing
Smoking also increases the risk of tooth extraction and oral surgery. Even worse smoking lowers your ability to recover from these dental procedures, including dental implants.
Seeing as your mouth’s defences are weak, there may even be more problems down the road. Your dentist can help you come up with a treatment plan, but their success depends on you adhering to it.
Oral Cancer
The worst thing about smoking is that it can cause oral cancer. Keep in mind that heavy alcohol consumption, combined with smoking increases the risk of developing oral cancer.
The Best Solution
Quit.
Again, a dentist can put together a treatment plan to help lessen the issues associated with smoking, but the only way to make them go away completely is to stop smoking altogether. Dental issues are just one of the many parts of your body that can be affected by smoking, which means that quitting will ensure a healthier life in general.
For more information about the effects of smoking on your teeth, contact us today on (03) 9571 9016.
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