Smoking And Oral Health

Have you ever felt that people wrinkle their noses when you are near them? If you have, it’s because of the cancer stick that you are so addicted to. Not only does smoking cause serious health risks like cancer and heart disease, but it also takes a toll on your oral health.

Effect of smoking on oral health

Here is a cross section of the affect smoking has on your oral health:

• Discoloured teeth
• Bad breath
• Increased amounts of tartar and plaque
• Makes gums vulnerable to gum disease
• Increases chances of oral cancer
• Decreases bone mass in the jaw
• Slows down the healing process considerably

Smoking and gum disease

If you find a smoker there is a good chance that he/she might be suffering from gum disease. This is because smoking or other tobacco products have an adverse effect on the attachment that connects the bone and the soft tissue to your teeth. Also, smoking has an affect on the general functioning of the gum tissue cells. Smoking creates a major interference in the normal functioning of the cells; this makes you susceptible to various infections. Quite a number of hardcore smokers suffer from periodontal disease also.

Quit smoking for oral health

The results of a smoking cessation on your oral health are immediate. You will find that your breath is not as bad as it was, when you were smoking. You also begin to experience a general improvement in your oral health. You feel healthier and some of the chronic problems that you might be suffering from also disappear over time.