Warning labels on cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco and other tobacco products point smoking and tobacco are bad for your body and bad for your oral health.
Smoking and chewing tobacco risk factors:
- Mouth and throat cancer
- Gum disease
- Delayed tooth adjustment with orthodontic work
- Poor healing after oral surgery
- Receding gums
- Tooth decay
- Failed dental implants
The best thing you can do for your teeth, mouth and health is to quit using tobacco; it’s the only way to decrease your risk regarding tobacco-related health problems. It’s not easy because the nicotine in cigarettes, cigars, and pipe and chewing tobacco, is very addictive. But you can do it. And when you do you’ll be happier and healthier, and have a smile of which you can be most proud!
Smoking directly affects your oral health because it:
- Reduces blood flow to your gums
- Reduces the Vitamin C levels which is needed to keep your gums healthy
- Raises the temperature in the mouth, damaging and killing important cells
Smoking causes:
- Bad breath
- Stained teeth and tongue
- A dulled sense of taste and smell
- Delayed healing after a mouth wound or having a tooth extracted
- Difficulties in correcting crooked teeth or misaligned bites
- Gum disease, bone loss and tooth loss
- Oral cancer
Smokers are bound to have dental problems. And with every puff, the problems get worse. Even if you feel you can’t quit fully, at least try and reduce the amount you smoke.
