The Dreadful Impact of Cigarettes on Oral Hygiene

Smoking is known for its detrimental effects on overall health. It is linked to several conditions and can cause cancer in nearly every part of your body. But did you know that your oral health is also in jeopardy?

When it comes to your oral health, your gums, teeth, tongue, mouth, and even throat are at risk when you smoke cigarettes. That’s why it is not considered a luxury when you visit our dentist on Lebanon Road for a dental exam and cleaning since you could be at risk of developing mouth cancer and other oral health issues.

Tobacco use of any kind will always affect your oral health. Without further ado, let’s check out some of the detrimental effects of cigarette smoking on your oral health.

Smoking Increases Gum Disease Risk

Periodontal or gum disease is a common oral disease caused by a bacterial infection that destroys the gums, supportive tissue, and bone that anchors your teeth. The infection mainly occurs when plaque (a sticky biofilm comprised of bacteria, food debris, and saliva) forms along the gum line.

If you don’t clean your teeth every day or even visit our dentist near you every six months, the plaque hardens to form a brownish substance known as calculus or tartar. Tartar is a brownish substance that coats the teeth. Once it gets to this stage, you will not remove the stains without professional help.

So, when you smoke, you increase the risk of gum disease since tobacco affects the attachment of soft tissue and bone to your teeth. Tobacco also interferes with how your gum cells function.

The interference increases your susceptibility to infections such as periodontitis. What’s more is that when you have an infection, your body will have a hard time fighting it off. This is because smoking impairs blood flow; therefore, affecting wound healing.

So if you are a smoker, you need to know that:

• Your risk for gum disease is twice as much compared with a non-smoker
• Periodontal treatment in Frisco, TX, may not work in the same fashion as people who don’t smoke
• The longer you smoke, the higher the chance you get gum disease
• The more cigarettes you smoke in a day, the greater the risk of gum disease

You might be thinking that if you don’t smoke tobacco, but you use it in another form, you are in the clear. Sadly, you aren’t! If you use tobacco in any form, pipes, cigars, vaping, or even smokeless tobacco, you raise the risk for gum disease.

In fact, smokeless tobacco usually irritates the gum tissue and causes it to pull away from your teeth. Once this happens, your roots become exposed, increasing the risk of cavities and even gum disease. Also, when your roots are exposed, you can experience more sensitivity to extreme temperatures, making drinking and eating a nightmare.

Discoloration of Teeth

One common issue that arises when you smoke cigarettes is tooth discoloration. If you have been smoking for some time, you will realize that your teeth will turn from white to yellow or yellowish-brown.

There are two main components in tobacco that are notorious teeth-staining products: nicotine and tar. Tar is naturally brown, so when it is introduced into your mouth, it seeps into your teeth’s pores, leaving a brown tinge to your teeth.

On the other hand, nicotine is naturally colorless. However, if it so happens that it meets with oxygen, it turns yellow. So, can you imagine what happens when these two substances meet in your mouth?

The only good news that comes out of this scenario is that our dentist on Lebanon Road can help whiten your teeth even if they are severely stained.

The Bottomline

As you already know, smoking will harm your overall health as well as your oral health. The prudent thing to do is always to kick the habit. However, in the meantime, you can ensure that you seek periodontal treatment in Frisco, TX, to help you deal with any signs of the disease.

Additionally, you still need to maintain proper oral care each day. Don’t skip dental visits two or three times each year.

In any case, you can contact us at Millennium Smiles on Legacy if you have any questions or need to book an appointment.