Most people are aware that smoking is bad for their health. However many people don't realize the damage that smoking does to their mouth gums and teeth. Smoking can lead to tooth staining, gum disease, tooth loss and more seriously mouth cancer.
One of the effects of smoking is staining on the teeth due to the nicotine and tar in tobacco.
It can make the teeth yellow in a very short time, and heavy smokers often complain that their teeth are almost brown after years of smoking.
People who smoke, are more likely to have gum disease.
Smoking may change the type of bacteria in dental plaque, increasing the number of bacteria that are more harmful. It also reduces the blood now in the gums and supporting tissues of the tooth and makes them more likely to become inflamed. In smokers gum disease will get worse more quickly than in people who do not smoke. Because of the reduced blood flow smokers may not get the warning symptoms of bleeding gums as much as non-smokers. Gum disease is still the most common cause of tooth loss in adults.
People who smoke may find they are more likely to have bad breath than non-smokers. Fresh-breath products such as mouthwashes may help to disguise the problem in the short term, but that is all they will do.
Smoking can cause lung and throat cancer, but many people still don't realize that it is one of the main causes of mouth cancer too. There are more and more new cases of mouth cancer each year, and thousands die every year from the disease.
We at Healthy Roots carry out a regular examination to make sure that your teeth and gums and whole mouth are healthy. We will also carry out an examination of your cheeks and tongue for any signs of other condition that may need any other investigation. People who smoke are more likely to have stained teeth and gum disease, and therefore may need appointments more often with the dentist.
