Tobacco comes in many forms, cigarettes, pipes, and cigars are all examples of ways to consume tobacco products. It is no secret the devastating impact smoking has on the skin, bones, and lungs, but do you know the kind of permanent damage you may be doing to your overall oral health? It may be hard to tell if damage is being done in the short term, but the long term effects of smoking are largely irreversible and will cause major issues.
Ways of consuming tobacco that cause problems:
Any way you consume tobacco is unhealthy for your mouth. These are some of the more common ways that tobacco is consumed and each follow with devastating consequences to your oral health.
- Smoking cigarettes
- Smoking cigars
- Smoking hookah/shisha
- Smoking from a tobacco pipe
- Using chewing tobacco
Table of Contents
Staining
Teeth staining aesthetically is not ideal for anyone. When you smile, you want to be able to show off your beautiful healthy white teeth. Smoking and using tobacco products retires any dress of perfect white teeth. Tobacco when smoked produces a brownish or yellow colour. The smoke inhaled passes through the lips and may attach itself to your white teeth. Over time, you may notice that despite brushing, your teeth have been stained yellow or even brown. These stains are extremely hard to remove, not to mention can cost hundreds of dollars. Teeth staining is not the only kind of staining you might encounter with tobacco use. Your skin and lips could be impacted as well. Save yourself money in the long run by keeping your teeth pearly white and free from tobacco smoke.
Bacteria
Introduction of any additional substance to the body introduces new bacteria. Even eating different foods invites this bacteria. Many bacteria we consume allow our bodies to function properly. That being said, the bacteria from smoking tobacco serves no useful purpose to the human body. Each time you use a tobacco product, you introduce new bacteria to the teeth and oral tissues. Too much bacteria in the mouth will result in an unhealthy build up of denticle plaque which offers the perfect environment for other issues to present.
Gum Health
The health of your mouth’s gum tissue is put further and further at risk with each cigarette you put to your lips. First off, the chemicals that you ingest when you smoke prohibit proper functioning of gum tissue cells. In addition, smoking tobacco introduces new bacteria to your mouth which hides in the gums. When the bacteria builds up enough, it creates sticky and persistent plaque. Plaque build ups around the gums lead to gingivitis. If left unaddressed, gingivitis could progress into periodontitis, which is severe gum disease. Severe gum disease leaves tooth roots exposed and susceptible to disease. In extreme cases, the gums may weaken to a point where they can no longer hold onto the teeth. This results in the need for extraction, or teeth fall out on their own. Look out for early gum disease warning signs:
- Loose teeth
- Painful brushing and chewing
- Swollen gums
- Tooth sensitivity
To treat gum disease is not an easy process. It requires time and can stack up becoming fairly expensive. Your first defence is to quit smoking and continue with healthy oral practices like brushing twice a day and flossing to remove plaque.
Oral Cancer
Because smoking changes the DNA makeup in your mouth, it can also cause harmful mutations. These mutations are exactly what sparks the development of cancer cells in the body. Unfortunately, once genetic makeup in the body has been changed, it cannot be undone. Oral cancer shows up in the gums, throat and tongue. To rid the body of the cancer, wherever there are mutated cells need to be removed completely. The removal process may not even be enough to stop the effects depending on if the cancer has spread or not. Cancer of the mouth is a group of mutated and abnormal cells. It presents in many different ways including a sore that never heals, a white patch in the mouth, or a hole. If you think you may have oral cancer, dental offices usually offer oral screenings for their patients. These screenings use different technologies to look for abnormal cell clusters before they fully develop into cancer.
Bad Breath
The next thing smoking tobacco does is cause chronic bad breath. While most often, bad breath comes from the stomach, tobacco products produce a more pungent kind of stench from one’s oral cavity. The bad breath using tobacco causes is not even just the smell of smoke or tobacco. The breeding ground smoking creates harbours long lasting odor producing bacteria. This bacteria is hard to get rid of, and lingers long after you put down the cigarette or cigar. Even after brushing, the bacteria may remain. Coupled with the fact that blood flow and saliva production are disturbed, using tobacco products generates a stinky environment in anyone’s body.
Blood Flow
Smoking inhibits the proper blood flow within the body. That extends to the mouth as well. Without proper blood flow to the teeth, gums, and other oral tissues, you may experience weakened teeth and gums. You might find it harder to chew and that your gums are more pale or enflamed as a direct result. Furthermore, poor blood flow can increase the amount of time it takes for your mouth to heal sores, and wounds. If you notice that you are developing more mouth sores, evaluating your smoking or tobacco habits is long overdue..
Quitting Tobacco Products
Evidently, smoking has disastrous impacts on your mouth health and you should try to quit for both your physical health and oral health. Quitting smoking or using tobacco products is undeniably a very hard habit to kick. Though, it is possible, and your dentist will thank you too! There are a variety of options and alternatives available to those trying to quit. Some options are better than others of course, but any attempt to cut the habit is better than none. You can look into prescription drugs to quit or over the counter tobacco alternatives. It only takes a week of non-smoking for your cravings to dramatically subside, and only gets easier from there.
Author’s Bio
Kristy Ngai is a content writer for BreezeMaxWeb that helps businesses showcase their brand through enticing copy. When she’s not working, you can find her playing net in a local beer league or biking around the city.