Smoking and Oral Health
Smoking affects nearly every organ in our body from lungs to kidneys and heart. But it severely affects your oral health and also increases the risk of developing oral cancer. As per a recent study, 8 out of 10 patients with oral cancer are avid smokers.
Although most people are aware of the deadly effects of smoking and tobacco consumption, many are unaware that smoking adversely affects their mouth as well.
Effects of Smoking on Oral Health:
Stained Teeth:
Tobacco products contains Nicotine, a toxic colourless or yellowish oily liquid that sticks microscopic pores in the tooth enamel. This results in stained teeth, wherein the color of your teeth changes from yellowish-brown to black-brown.
Bad Breath:
Unpleasant odor in the mouth is often disgusting and irritating. When a person smokes, chemicals like tar and nicotine start depositing in your mouth. These chemicals also deposit on your gums and tongue causing awful breath.
Diminished Taste
This is true! Smoking reduces a person’s ability to taste the food. When a person smokes, the chemicals activate the receptors in their nose affecting the regeneration of the taste buds.
Oral Cancer
One of the most severe effects of smoking or chewing tobacco is Oral Cancer. Doctors have proven that a smoker is six times more prone to developing oral cancer than a non-smoker.
Also regarded as mouth cancer, this life-threatening disease involves rapid mutation of healthy cells in your mouth affecting the tissues.
Periodontal (gum) disease:
This is an infection of the gums that gradually destroy the structure of your teeth. In some rare cases, Periodontal can make your teeth fall out. Studies have found that smoking is one of the major causes of Periodontal.
Alters the blood circulation
Smoking changes the course of your blood circulation, which results in infections and restricted blood flow to certain parts of your body.
Smoking and Oral Health: Things to remember
Smoking is injurious to health, this fact is known to all, but still, most people are not ready to give up on this bad habit. Here are some of the best ways to get rid of stains caused by smoking and chewing tobacco:
Maintain Oral Hygiene
Smoking is injurious to health, this fact is known to all, but still, most people are not ready to give up on this bad habit. Here are some of the best ways to get rid of stains caused by smoking and chewing tobacco:
Teeth Whitening
This medical procedure involves the removal of nicotine stains deposited on your teeth. The process used in Teeth Whitening is called bleaching and is conducted under the guidance of a highly qualified dentist.
Rinse your mouth
Rinsing your mouth immediately after smoking and chewing tobacco to clean out the bacteria and chemicals seated on your teeth. Use a standard mouthwash for rinsing your mouth.
Regular Dental Checkups
Even if you are a non-smoker, regular dental checkups are a must for healthy oral hygiene. Your dentist will first examine you and advise you to undergo bleaching or professional dental cleaning accordingly.