From an increased risk of lung cancer to wrinkles, smoking cigarettes is a threat to virtually every aspect of your health. Despite all of the available information on cigarettes and their attack on your body, over 34 million Americans still choose to smoke. What’s even more concerning is that 40% of adults aged 20-64 who smoke have untreated oral health issues.
Dr. Gilberto Tostado and our team are taking a closer look at five of the most common ways smoking cigarettes wreaks havoc on your teeth and gums, as well as showing you how we can help you address the damage.
#1: Stains and discoloration
Every cigarette contains a variety of chemicals, including nicotine and tar. When your teeth come into contact with these harmful substances, they stain and discolor quickly, turning an unsightly shade of yellow. Some smokers even notice that their teeth turn brown after years of heavy smoking.
#2: Bad breath
Smoking cigarettes can cause bad breath in a few different ways. The first reason is that the stench of smoke sticks around in your mouth and makes your breath smell (and taste) terrible. The second way smoking causes bad breath is that it dries out your mouth, and dry mouth is one of the most common causes of halitosis (bad breath). Finally, cigarettes increase your risk for gum disease, and the resulting infections and decay can make your breath reek.
#3: Gum disease
Speaking of gum disease, your risk of developing it skyrockets when you’re a smoker because bacteria and plaque accumulate much easier on your teeth and along your gum line. This creates a breeding ground for disease-causing bacteria and allows gum disease to take root quickly.
#4: Slow healing
The chemicals in smoke that wind up coursing through your body reduce the amount of available oxygen in your bloodstream, which leaves your teeth and gums vulnerable and weakens their ability to heal from infections.
#5: Oral cancer
The increased risk of oral cancer is the biggest threat smoking cigarettes poses to your oral health. In fact, smokers are 10 times more likely to develop oral cancer than non-smokers. If you smoke, we encourage you to schedule regular oral cancer screenings. At 5 Star Dental Group, we offer the best, most advanced oral cancer screening technology.
How smokers can care for their oral health
Quitting smoking isn’t easy. And while kicking the habit is the best way to support your teeth and gums, we provide comprehensive cosmetic and oral health services to help you maintain a healthy smile as much as possible. Some of the services we offer include:
We also offer dental exams and cleaning appointments, which are crucial to dental hygiene and one of the best things you can do for your oral health if you’re a smoker. During your exam, we carefully check your mouth for any and all signs of decay, disease, and other potential problems. Do your best to schedule and keep routine exams and cleanings with Dr. Tostado every six months — it could save your life.
If you’d like more information about how smoking cigarettes impacts your oral health, or if you’d like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tostado, don’t hesitate to call our friendly staff at (210) 494-3511 or request an appointment online today.
Leave a Reply