How Does Smoking Affect Your Teeth?

If you’ve ever wondered about the magnitude of the smoking problem and its harmful effects on the oral & dental health, consider these startling statistics from Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention:

• Smokers are four times more affected when it comes to poor dental health as compared to non-smokers
• Approximately one-third of total smokers suffer from 3 or more dental issues such as gum problems, bad breath, teeth discoloration etc
• Almost half of the smoking population never visits a dental clinic as compared to the non-smokers

It cannot be emphasized enough how harmful smoking is for dental health. Smoking brings your teeth in direct contact with harmful, dangerous toxins like nicotine. Other than gum problems, tooth decay, or building up of plaque and calculus, smoking limits the mouth’s natural ability to fight off infection.  Some of the most harmful effects of smoking on teeth include:

Yellowing or browning of teeth (discoloration)

The yellow or discolored teeth, which is unsightly is the most common sign of a chain smoker. The reason of discoloring or tooth stain is because the chemicals in the tobacco cling to the enamel in teeth, causing them to stain over the period of time.

Gum Problems

There are several studies suggesting that smokers are almost twice as prone to the gum disease as compared to nonsmokers. The reason for most of the gum diseases in smokers is the formation of bacterial plaque in their mouths. Nicotine content of the cigarettes is extremely harmful and can cause constricting of the blood vessels that further develop the risk of severe gum issues. Some of the common gum problems caused by smoking include:

• Tenderness and redness of the teeth
• Common instances of loosening of teeth
• Chances of pus oozing from teeth
• Bleeding when brushing the teeth or flossing
• Bad breath or pain while chewing

Foul Breath

Due to continuous smoking, there is an overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth that leads to extremely foul breath in long run. This is a very serious and persistent problem that needs proper treatment than just brushing or gargling with mouthwash.

To effectively get rid of all the teeth problems caused by smoking, regular dental checkups are recommended to identify problems in a timely manner. Visit Seaholme Dental for the best dental care service.

Oral Cancer

This is perhaps the most severe form of smoking-caused disorders. There are an increasing number of people getting diagnosed with oral cancer and 80% of them are smokers.

There is no doubt about the fact that smoking can be harmful to your gums and teeth. Although the ideal solution is to quit smoking completely for a healthier lifestyle; the beginning step is to go for regular dental checkups to assess the severity of the issue.

A qualified dentist at Seaholme Dental can put together a proper plan to address all your dental troubles caused by smoking.