How Smoking Affects Your Teeth?

It’s common knowledge that the habit of smoking is detrimental to a person’s health. Among many other parts of your body that smoking can wreak havoc on, the health of your teeth is one of the worst affected. Though one’s teeth might not be considered important by a smoker or someone who intends to smoke, it needs to be very understood that the use of tobacco can bring serious damage to your mouth.

Smoking and tobacco usage are highly addictive and often, there is no turning back once you are hooked on the habit. The longer you continue down the path, the larger the damage that you are inflicting upon your health. Though it is quite difficult to stop it’s not impossible. There are various ways to quit smoking and in doing so you might be able to reverse some of the adverse impacts of smoking that have occurred on your health.

What Does Smoking Do to Your Teeth?

Here we would like to create an awareness regarding how smoking affects your teeth and how you can do your part in putting an end to the harm.

Periodontal Disease

Also referred to as gum disease, periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of the mouth. Over time, periodontal disease can gravely impact the gums. Bleeding gums, sore mouth, and gums that are easily irritated are all classic symptoms of this type of gum disease. Gums that look receding can also indicate the presence of this disease. With the help of a dentist, the early stages of periodontal disease can be often reversed but if it’s accompanied by long-term smoking and tobacco usage then the problem can become worse.

Tooth Discoloration

Smoking can quickly harm the appearance of your beautiful white teeth into shades of yellow or brown even with a few days of use. The tar and nicotine from smoking can build up on your teeth, turning them into yellow over time, and also even darker to a brownish color if it stays for a longer period. The longer you smoke, the more discolored your teeth can get. Professional teeth whitening may help in removing the years of stain and restoring the brightness of your teeth, the persisting usage of tobacco products can easily re-stain your teeth again.

Oral Cancer

According to experts, about 90 percent of the individuals who are diagnosed with cancer of the mouth, lips, or throat have a history of tobacco usage. It is seen that smokers are six times more likely to develop oral cancers than non-smokers. Smoking cigarettes, pipes, or cigars increases your risk of developing oral cancer greatly, and two in every three mouth cancer cases have a link to smoking.

Tooth Decay

Most people only tend to associate oral cancer or gum issues with smoking and tobacco usage. Smoking not just causes the above-mentioned problems but also tooth decay which often manifests as serious dental issues. Large cavities that are present around the gum line can lead to weak teeth and infections causing grave dental issues down the line. The repair of broken teeth can be very costly to do and also be very painful. Tooth decay can also lead to serious nerve damage which can have terrible effects on your physical and mental health.

Read To Know: Common Symptoms of Tooth Decay

Interferes with Blood Circulation

The normal functioning of gum tissue is affected by smoking, causing infections and the restriction of blood flow. It can also delay the healing process after any type of oral surgery for treatment of gum disease, dental implants, or tooth extraction making the recovery process difficult. Smokers may find their gums bleeding when brushing or flossing. The amount of blood flow to your organs can become constricted by the usage of nicotine as it causes your blood vessels to become narrow. Constant constriction can make your blood vessels elastic and stiff over time and decrease the amount of oxygen and nutrients your cells receive.

Tooth Loss

Tooth loss isn’t far behind if periodontal disease has already occurred in your mouth. As the gum gets weaker, it tends to hold less onto the teeth. There occurs a higher rate of decay due to infection if there is an incidence of periodontal disease. It is observed that 4 in 10 older adults who currently smoke cigarettes have lost all of their teeth.

Seeking Dental Help

Many of the problems related to smoking and tobacco usage can be stopped or fixed, no matter what kind of situation the health of your teeth is in. In most cases, the discoloration can be fixed by polishing, cleaning, or whitening procedures. Tooth decay can be fixed by fillings, root canals, or even crowns. Periodontal disease is often reversible by employing deep cleaning which is also known as root planing or scaling.If you have lost your teeth or your teeth are in bad condition owing to smoking, a dentist can help you by creating solutions to give you a better smile and bring back your confidence.

Best Dentist For You

Whether you have recently smoked or you are a lifelong smoke smoker if you need help in taking care of your dental health, skilled and professional dentists can be of your help. Dentique is a leading and well-reputed Dental clinic in Kochi that provides a comprehensive range of dental solutions and treatments for all types of dental problems. Dentique is widely recognized for providing specialized cosmetic treatments like Smile Designing and Dental veneers, Specialized Orthodontic treatments like Fastbraces and Aligners, and more.