Effects Smoking Can Have On Teeth
As well as smoking being bad for your general health, it also has serious effects on your oral health.
Routine brushing is not enough to get rid of the stains smoking leaves
on your teeth or reduce the bad breath that lingers. It is important to
visit the dentist regularly and have them carry out professional dental
cleaning.
Over a period of time, smoking can interfere with your immune system.
For example, smokers normally do not have bleeding gums as they have low
blood supply to the gums, therefore, an oral health issue such as gum
disease, which is a leading cause in tooth loss, would be masked.
Typically non-smokers suffering with Periodontal Disease (gum disease)
will have bleeding gums when they brush and will visit there dentist
about this concern before it’s too late.
However, smokers who are at a much higher risk of developing gum
disease, will not have bleeding gums and will not know that they are in
danger of losing their teeth due to the disease. In some cases, by the
time they go to their dentist it may be too late to save the tooth or
teeth.
Smoking can also cause cancer of the mouth. Any soft tissue of the
mouth is exposed to the carcinogens in smoke and can turn cancerous.
Most affected are the palate and tongue. This affect can be magnified if
alcohol is consumed in high volumes.
Visiting your dentist every 6 months for your regular check-up is a good
way to catch Periodontal Disease before it progresses. At these
appointments your dentist can also check for other issues concerning
your oral health due to smoking, such as, the increased build-up of
plaque and tartar on your teeth and discolouration of your teeth.
