Using tobacco products can cause several medical conditions in the mouth. As the most common used forms of tobacco products, cigarettes can do more than give a person bad breath. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, “cigarette smoking kills more than 480,000 Americans each year, with more than 41,000 of these deaths from exposure to secondhand smoke” (cdc.gov, 2017).
Side effects of smoking include:
- Bad Breath
- Discolored Teeth
- Plaque and Tarter Buildup
- Increased Risk of Gum Disease
- Jaw Bone Degeneration
- Oral Cancer
- Lung Cancer
Despite the warnings on television, on the radio, and even on the packages, people continue to smoke. In fact, the warning label on the side of cigarette packages says, “Quitting smoking now greatly reduces serious risks to your health.” Gum disease can be caused by smoking and it is the leading causes of tooth loss in adults.
At Foothill Dental Care in Livermore, many of our patients continue to smoke despite the consequences of entertaining such habits. Fortunately, as a patient at Foothill Dental Care in Livermore, we provide oral hygiene information that help combat the side effects of smoking cigarettes. Our services include teeth cleaning, teeth inspections to observe degeneration, and teeth whitening. Call Foothill Dental Care in Livermore at (925) 961-5484 to schedule an appointment today.
A consequence of smoking is decreased saliva flow. Saliva is important to mouth because it helps neutralize acids from food that can harm tooth enamel. It is also very helpful in digesting food while keeping tartar balanced in the mouth. Unfortunately, smoking cigarettes restricts saliva glands from producing saliva and, in turn, tartar increases on the teeth and gums. Tartar contributes to plaque and plaque is the main component in gum disease. See how it works yet?
Tooth loss is also more common in smokers compared to non-smokers. In a study by published by the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, smokers’ oral conditions improve less than non-smokers after receiving non-surgical gum treatment for gum disease (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 2002). After teeth are missing and the option for tooth implants are considered, it is important to know that dental implants in smokers have a higher rate of failure based on poor bone healing in smokers.
A healthy mouth can help you live a healthy life, and it all starts with not smoking. There are hundreds of studies available that explain the dire consequences of smoking cigarettes and using other tobacco products. As a dentist, our doctor cannot emphasize it enough: smoking is bad for a person’s oral health. Fortunately, there are steps a person can take to stop smoking. Once you stop smoking, it is important to make an appointment at our office, so we can help you monitor your oral health. We can even help you keep tract of dental improvements and provide a personalized plan for tooth care.
For more information of oral health after you quit smoking, call Foothill Dental Care in Livermore at (925) 961-5484 to schedule an appointment today.