Smoking is one of the most common worldwide addictions that most individuals have. Some smoke cigarettes; others might use cigars, pipes, or even smokeless tobacco, like chewing tobacco.
But did you know about the adverse effects of smoking on the mouth and throat? Your mouth is very important because it helps you eat, speak, and smile. Let’s explore how smoking affects your oral health.
1. Stained Teeth
One of the first things you might notice if someone smokes is that their teeth can turn yellow or even brown. It happens because the tar and nicotine in tobacco stick to your teeth and build up over time. Even if you brush your teeth regularly, smoking can make it very hard to keep them white.
2. Bad Breath
Smoking can give you bad breath, also known as halitosis. The chemicals in tobacco stay in your mouth, lungs, and throat, causing a constant bad smell. It doesn’t go away easily, even if you use mouthwash or chew gum.
3. Gum Disease
Smoking and dental health are connected directly. Your gums are the soft tissue around your teeth, and they are very important for keeping your teeth in place. Smoking can make your gums sick, leading to gum disease. It happens because smoking reduces the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream, making it harder for infected gums to heal. Signs of gum disease include:
- Red, swollen gums.
- Bleeding when you brush or floss.
- Even teeth that become loose.
4. Tooth Decay and Loss
Smoking makes it easier for plaque and tartar to build up on your teeth. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on your teeth, and tartar is a hardened form of plaque. When plaque and tartar are not removed, they can cause cavities (holes in your teeth) and make your gums recede (pull away from your teeth). It can lead to teeth becoming loose and even falling out.
5. Slower Healing
If you smoke and you need dental work like getting a tooth pulled or having surgery, your mouth will take longer to heal. It is because smoking reduces blood flow to your mouth’s tissues. It means that any cuts or wounds in your mouth won’t get the nutrients and oxygen they need to repair themselves quickly.
So, another question that comes to mind is that how long does it take for smoking to affect your teeth? Smoking can start to affect your teeth in just a few days, causing stains and bad breath, for starters. Long-term damage happens over months and years.
6. Oral Cancer
One of the most serious risks of smoking is oral cancer. This type of cancer can affect your lips, tongue, cheeks, gums, and the roof or floor of your mouth. The chemicals in tobacco can cause cells in your mouth to grow uncontrollably, forming tumours. Signs of oral cancer can include sores that don’t heal, lumps, or patches in your mouth that are red or white.
7. Changes in Taste and Smell
Smoking can tamper with your senses of taste and smell. It happens because the chemicals in tobacco damage the taste buds on your tongue and the receptors in your nose that help you smell. It means that food might taste better than it used to, and you might not be able to enjoy the smells of your favourite foods or other pleasant scents.
8. Dry Mouth
Smoking can also cause dry mouth, a condition where you don’t produce enough saliva. Saliva is very important because it helps keep your mouth clean and protects your teeth from decay. Without enough saliva, you’re more likely to get cavities and infections in your mouth.
9. Changes in Appearance
Besides affecting your teeth and breath, smoking can change the way your mouth looks. It can cause your gums to recede, making your teeth look longer. It can also cause wrinkles around your mouth and lips because of the repeated action of puckering your lips to inhale smoke.
How to Protect Your Oral Health
If you smoke, the best thing you can do for your mouth and your overall health is to quit. Here are some steps that can help you protect your oral health:
- Quit Smoking: Multiple things are available on the market these days to help you quit smoking. Talk to dentist or counsellor about ways to stop. They might suggest nicotine gum, patches, or other medications to help you quit.
- Regular Dental Visits: Regularly visit your dentist near you for check-ups and cleanings. Healthcare professionals can identify tooth problems and help them kill them early.
- Good Oral Hygiene: Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day and floss daily. It helps remove plaque and prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
- Healthy Diet: Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Cut down on sugary drinks and snacks that cause cavities.
- Stay Hydrated: Water can help you with two things. One, keeping your mouth moist. Two, wash away food particles and rinse bacteria from the mouth.
Drink plenty of water to keep your mouth moist and help wash away food particles and bacteria.
Endnotes
Smoking has many harmful effects on your oral health. It can stain your teeth, give you bad breath, cause gum disease, and even lead to oral cancer. The best way to protect your mouth is to quit smoking and practice good oral hygiene. Your mouth is important for eating, speaking, and smiling, so take good care of it.
If you know someone who smokes, encourage them to quit. They might not realize how much it affects their oral health and overall well-being. By quitting smoking, they can improve their health. If your dental health has been impacted by smoking, you should seek the opinion of a dentist near Bridgeland by visiting Crescent Heights Dental Clinic today.