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We all know that smoking’s bad for us, but how does it affect your oral health. Today one of our Birmingham Dentists looks into the impact smoking has on our dental health.
How does smoking affect my dental health?
Smoking can cause many different medical problems and even lead to fatal diseases. Most people don’t realise the damage smoking can do to their gums and teeth. Smoking can lead to the following:
- Tooth staining – Teeth are stained by tobacco leading to a yellow/brown staining that can dramatically change how attractive your smile looks.
- Gum Disease – Smoking interferes with the normal function of gum tissue cells, making smokers much more susceptible to infections. Smoking can also reduce blood flow to the gums and a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream that can impair wound healing. Patients who smoke may experience an increased build-up of plaque and tartar on their teeth, which leads to gum disease progressing more rapidly in smokers than it does with non-smokers. If gum disease becomes severe it can make you lose teeth, gum disease is the most common cause of tooth loss in adults in the UK.
- Oral Cancer – Smoking can increase your risk of developing oral cancer and cancer of the throat and oesophagus. Every year thousands of people die from mouth cancer due to the effects of smoking. Smokers are 6 times more likely than non-smokers to develop mouth cancer.
- Problems with bad breath – Smoking can cause bad breath (halitosis) which can be quite easy to hide temporarily. Toothpaste and mouthwash can leave you with fresh breath temporarily, but this will only help in the short term and the bad breath will return. Bad breath associated with a dry mouth is caused by a reduction in the cleansing mechanism of the mouth as a result of reduced flow of saliva, which can be caused by smoking. Gum disease associated with smoking can also cause bad breath.
Why does smoking stain your teeth?
The nicotine and tar present in the tobacco can stain the teeth, making them yellow . As this develops further, heavy smokers end up with teeth that are almost brown in colour after years of smoking. To remove the staining simply brushing your teeth will not work, it requires a professional cleaning and a whitening method to undo the staining that has occurred.
How can my dentist help?
It’s recommended to visit your dentist regularly for both a normal check-up and a full mouth examination so that any other conditions can be spotted early. The staining on your teeth associated with smoking and plaque build-up cannot be removed by brushing alone. By seeing a dental hygienist you can ensure your teeth are kept clean by a professional scale and polish that can remove plaque/staining that cannot be removed by brushing alone. This is essential in preventing symptoms of gum disease progressing, preventing its side effects such as bad breath and tooth loss.
By visiting your dentist you can ensure you mouth is thoroughly checked as they are trained to spot any problems such signs of oral cancer, cavities and gum disease that would be incredibly difficult for an untrained professional to spot. Importantly, your dentist can help guide you with important advice to help maintain a good standard of oral hygiene. If you have any questions related to smoking and your oral health, or require any other dental advice feel free to contact that Scott Arms Dental Practice on 0121 357 5000, where we would be delighted to help.
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