Smoking is bad for overall health, everybody knows that, but did you know smoking damages teeth as well? If you’re a smoker, and you question why your teeth show sign of degrading, it’s likely due to your smoking habits. It is never late to quit, but on some occasions, your oral health may become damaged beyond repair and emergency treatment would be necessary.
It is never underestimated how difficult quitting smoking can be, however, it is something that you should consider after reading this. Below outlines how smoking damages teeth, no matter whether you smoke daily or on occasions.
Stains and Discolouration
The nicotine and tar found in tobacco are what causes stains and discolouration, and even brushing your teeth may not help save your smile. Although brushing your teeth may keep your mouth clean, the extrinsic part of your teeth will degrade to a darker shade. It is likely that the shade of your teeth will turn yellow or even brown. A deep scale and polish will be required at the dentist to attempt to raise the shade of your smile into white. You may also consider toothpaste containing baking soda.
Introduces Plaque and Tartar
The chemicals contained in the tobacco within a cigarette can cause dry mouth, meaning the saliva production becomes severely limited. Saliva helps to wash away any food debris in the mouth. Saliva also plays a vital role in keeping plaque and tartar away. Therefore, with dry mouth, bacteria-laden plaque develops in and around the teeth and gum line. This can harden into tartar, which is triggered by long-lasting plaque. This is something that cannot be removed by brushing your teeth. It will require professional treatment. You can help reduce tartar build-up by flossing your teeth every day, but this is a key sign that smoking damages teeth.
Gum Disease
Did you know that smokers are three to six times greater to develop gum disease? Gum disease can penetrate inside the gums, leading to receding gums and your teeth to fall out. Tobacco also causes gum inflammation and irritation. This again causes teeth to become loose, meaning bacteria can settle quickly and cause tooth decay. You should also expect your gums to bleed easily when brushing your teeth.
Causes Oral Cancer
Tobacco contains chemicals which can lead to oral cancer and the more cigarettes you smoke can lead to a greater chance of being diagnosed with the condition. Smoking is also one of the major sources of oral cancer. If your dentist sees signs of ulcers in the mouth, persistent lumps in and around of the neck, teeth becoming loose or persistent numbness, these are the oral cancer danger signs.
Slows Healing
If you’ve recently had restorative or preventative treatments, you can expect healing after treatment to be much slower than normal. Your gums and bone may be too weak to withstand any cosmetic treatments either.
Smoking damages teeth but can also have a detrimental impact on your oral health when, at some stage, the damage can be irreversible. Your smile will begin to degrade as time goes on, damaging smiling confidence and low self-esteem. The best thing to do is to quit smoking as soon as possible so there is a greater chance of restoring your smile and oral health.
Are you concerned about how smoking damages teeth? Our Sunbury Dentists can help restore your smile and restore your confidence. Contact us now and check yourself in for an appointment here.
