Your Teeth Are Begging You to Quit Smoking
We’ve all come to agree that smoking is a bad habit. Although it can relieve some stress or make you look cool, the ramifications are undeniably frightening. It is no secret that smoking causes cancer and heart disease and is definitely terrible for the lungs.
Did you know that smoking also affects your oral health? And if you do, do you think it’s only about yellow teeth and bad breath? Well, it’s a lot more serious. As a matter of fact, there are countless oral diseases caused by smoking.
The world-renowned dentist Dr. Bill Dorfman states:
“Tobacco use can do more than stain your teeth. It can go as far as causing mouth cancer”.
An experienced dentist in Dubai Marina can effectively address tooth chips, cracks, and discoloration.
Diving Into the Effects
Let’s Start With Some of What You Might Already Know:
- Stained Teeth: Tobacco stains cause the enamel (the hard outer layer of your teeth) to wear away over time, exposing the dentin (a softer layer of your teeth underneath the enamel). As the dentin starts to show through, your teeth will look increasingly yellow.
- Bad Breath: Also known as Halitosis, bad breath is caused by sulfur-producing bacteria in the tongue and throat. Smoking causes your mouth to dry out, which can easily induce Halitosis. Not to mention that the smell of cigarette smoke can linger in your breath.
- Loss of Smell and Taste: Have you ever noticed that you have less of a taste for food after becoming a regular smoker? Or did you find it hard to enjoy the smells you used to before? Smoking contributes to limiting both senses.
- Weakened Immune System: Smokers’ immune systems can become compromised, leading to weakened defenses against oral diseases and longer recovery from dental surgical procedures.
Moving Towards Some of the Scarier Effects
- Gum Disease: Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease. It happens when plaque and bacteria build up on your teeth and cause infection. Smoking can help delay the manifestation of symptoms, allowing it to grow much worse. Smoking also makes it harder to get rid of gum disease, as it weakens the body’s ability to fight it off. Research has shown that smokers tend to have more severe gum disease and take longer to recover. Some cases recorded eventual tooth loss due to the mentioned facts.
- Tooth Decay and Loss: Smoking supports bacteria, plaque, and tartar build-up, leading to cavities, decay, and tooth loss. Nicotine is a stimulant and can promote tooth grinding. Tooth grinding slowly wears away tooth enamel, making your teeth more susceptible to chips and cracks.
- Dental Implant Failure: Let’s not kid ourselves; dental therapy is rather expensive and uncomfortable. Now, imagine having to redo oral surgery or replace your newly put implants because of a cigarette addiction. Smoking can, in fact, lead to that. Nicotine and other chemicals found in cigarettes weaken the bone and make it more difficult for the implant to fuse with the bone. Additionally, smoking can increase the risk of developing an infection, leading to implant failure if not treated as soon as possible.
Last but Not Least
Oral Cancer: So, how does it happen?
Some of the chemicals contained in tobacco are carcinogenic, meaning they can cause genetic changes in cells of the mouth cavity, leading to the development of oral cancer.
Symptoms of oral cancer include:
- Loose teeth.
- Difficult or painful swallowing.
- Bleeding or numbness in the mouth.
- White or red patches on the mouth, tongue, or gums.
- Swelling or a sore on your lip that won’t heal.
Statistics show that men are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop this type of cancer, and smokers are 5 to 10 times more at risk of this disease than non-smokers.
In Conclusion
Minutes ago, you probably thought smoking was only bad for your heart and lungs. Now you’re aware that it can go far beyond that, attacking your teeth and oral health as well. We hope you’re more encouraged to quit now. And if you already don’t smoke, this is another compelling reason for you to maintain that status.
Looking for the best orthodontist in Dubai? We can give you professional advice for your oral health.
