Smoking And The Damage It Causes

Our Burton dentist looks at the risk to your oral health from smoking.

Although the number of people who smoke is on the decline, there is still a large number of people who start or continue with this habit. It is thought that around 15% of us still smoke tobacco based products in the UK; a large reduction certainly, but still a significant amount.

Whilst the dangers of smoking to our overall health are well known, such as cancers and lung disease; perhaps fewer people are aware of the negative and potentially dangerous effects it can have on your oral cavity.

Stained teeth

The most obvious and visible effect of regular smoking is that your teeth are likely to become quite badly stained. Whilst the severity of this will depend on how much you smoke, very few smokers will be able to avoid the tar staining that occurs as the smoke passes over the teeth and around the mouth. Whilst the appearance of your teeth can be restored with a teeth whitening procedure, or dental veneers where the staining is particularly severe, it is, of course, better to avoid this problem in the first instance.

Gum disease

Smoking is a known factor in increasing the risk of gum disease. Not only does it often leave people with a dry mouth, a perfect environment for increasing the amount of ‘bad’ bacteria present, but also causes restriction of blood flow in the gums, making infections more likely. Whilst good cleaning and flossing, along with hygienist visits, can help to control gum disease, continuing to smoke means that you are in a high risk group for gingivitis and periodontitis.

Halitosis

The smell of cigarette smoke alone on someone’s breath can be very off putting for a lot of people. Add to this the possibility of halitosis as a by product of gum disease and the smell can be very unpleasant indeed. Whilst sucking mints etc may help to mask the smell temporarily, it will still be there afterwards, and any sugars in the mints, if sucked regularly, may also lead to other problems such as tooth decay.

Oral cancer

The most serious oral health risk of smoking is oral cancer. Whilst it is not one of the more common cancers, it is thought to be responsible for approximately just over two thousand deaths a year, a figure which is projected to rise by 38% in the years leading up to 2035.

Regular dental checks at Mike Allen’s Dental Practice in Burton are essential in order to detect any potential signs of oral cancer so that treatment can be started in its early stages. We would like to reiterate again that we are not cancer experts, and if we recommend that you see your doctor because we have concerns about a possible symptom, this is purely precautionary and should be checked by a qualified professional.

We hope that the above oral health issues should be sufficient for you to ‘stub it out’, but, whether you smoke or not, please do ensure that you look after your teeth and gums and seek regular professional dental care on an ongoing basis.