You’ve likely heard that smoking increases the risk of lung cancer and emphysema and is bad for your heart and health. But did you realize that your cigarette habit can also impact your smile and appearance? Chronic smokers suffer from more dental problems that may make their smiles unsightly. Understanding how smoking affects your oral health can provide the momentum you need to quit for good.
Which aesthetic changes are associated with smoking
Cigarettes contain more than 600 ingredients that, when lit, create in excess of 4,000 chemicals. These chemicals, have been shown to have serious negative effects on health and are known to cause cancer . The nicotine and tar in tobacco products are absorbed by the enamel of your teeth. This results in yellowing teeth that look unsightly, if you have many smokes a day, your teeth may eventually turn nearly brown in color.
The chemicals in cigarettes and cigars also cause your teeth to build-up tartar and plaque. Over time, this increases your risk of developing gum disease, decay and other oral health problems. Over time the gum disease, can lead to increased bone loss around your teeth, creating dark margins next to you gum which gradually expands and form “black triangles”. As the loss of bone progresses the teeth will start to become mobile and drift creating larger gaps. The decay can create severe breakdown of the teeth leading to the creation of placed where the food can get trapped, crumbling teeth and tooth pain. Furthermore, sealing your lips around the cigarettes while smoking, can lead to wrinkles around your mouth.
Treatment for Smoking-Related Oral Health Problems
The best defense against smoking-related oral health problems is to stop your nicotine habit. By decreasing the amount of nicotine and other chemicals you consume, you can decrease your risk of oral cancer and gum disease. In our introductory discussion please mention that you are smoking, since we frequently treat smokers and can recommend smoking cessation programs to help you quit. I can also advise you about whitening treatments and gum disease prevention activities that will help you achieve a beautiful smile for years to come.
Please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Kaufman or to call today Tooronga Family Dentistry, phone number 98227006, for more information about how to stop smoking.