Smoking and oral health - Everything You Need to Know

Even though all of us are aware of the adverse effects of smoking, it is still a billion-dollar industry. If you are a smoker, it's quite typical that your mouth, teeth, and gums are frequently exposed to tobacco and nicotine. The more you smoke, the more it affects your sense of taste and lowers the immune system, eventually leading to oral cancer.

How Will Cigarettes Affect My Gums and Teeth? 

When you consume tobacco in any form, it could restrict the oxygen flow into the natural bloodstream, which would lead to your gum getting infected. This can slow down the overall healing process. Moreover, there are also post-surgery complications from tooth removal. The time taken to recover is relatively longer compared to that of a non-smoker. 

What Are the Risks Factors Involved in Being a Lifelong Smoker?

• Bad breath (halitosis)
• Stained teeth and tongue
• Reduced sense of smell and taste with time
• Plaque and Tartar buildup on the teeth
• Bone loss within the jaw
• Gum disease
• Tooth loss
• Increased risk of leukoplakia
• Slow Post-surgery healing in periodontal patients 
• Oral cancer
• The lower success rate of dental implants

So now you will be like, is it just smoking? Actually, no. Every form of tobacco can cause the same adverse effects on your oral health. Other forms of tobacco, like chewing tobacco, can contain up to 30 cancer-causing chemicals. Which can eventually lead to

• Addiction
• Cancer
• Cavities
• Gum disease. 
• Precancerous mouth lesions

How Can You Quit Smoking?

Now it's not easy to quit, as nicotine in cigarettes is naturally addictive. Quitting this terrible habit is the only solution to improve oral and dental health.

Some proven ways to help a person to quit using cigarettes are

• chewing gum (nicotine)
• nicotine patches
• nasal sprays
• inhalers
• lozenges

Even though there is no major study saying that you can quit smoking by nicotine replacement methods, a combination of various nicotine replacements is compelling than a single product. The sad part of the ill effects of smoking is that your loved ones also may have to pay the price. With proper support and willpower, you, too, can get rid of this bad habit.

For any dental problems related to smoking, you can always contact us to schedule an appointment at (541) 757 1829.  Visit our facility at 869 NW 23rd Street, Corvallis, OR 97330 for a detailed checkup.