Smoking is an oral habit not only bad for your general health, but for your teeth and gums as well. Your smile will gradually show signs of degradation due to these smoking habits, and we can discuss how smoking damages oral health.
It is never late to quit smoking, but you want to ensure that your oral health doesn’t become damaged beyond repair.
If you smoke, here are the reasons why and how smoking damages oral health.
Stains and Discolouration
Tobacco contains nicotine and tar, two properties that cause staining on your teeth. The stains are placed underneath your enamel, the front surface of your teeth, and it’ll require treatment at the dentist to remove them. The shade of your teeth will turn yellow or brown, and scale and polish treatment at the dentist will be necessary, or other cosmetic treatments we have available such as teeth whitening.
Plaque and Tartar Build-Up
Tobacco contains chemicals that may introduce conditions such as the dry mouth. A dry mouth indicates that your saliva levels in the mouth are low, and bacteria can build up quickly. Gradually, a dental plaque containing bacteria will coat around your teeth and the gum line. This eventually hardens into tartar, and cannot be removed by a toothbrush. Professional treatment would be required, however, the plaque can cause cavities if you eat sugar.
Periodontal Disease
The chances of gum disease are greater if you’re a smoker. Periodontal disease is the advanced stage of gum disease, where your gums are inflamed. Eventually, your gums will recede and expose the tooth root to decay and infections. When you brush your teeth, you’ll begin to notice bleeding.
Slower Healing
Smoking naturally slows down healing if you’ve had any dental treatments. For example, if you’ve had tooth extraction treatment, the blood clot needs to form, and healing of the clot takes longer than usual. Smoking also causes gums and bones to weaken, causing further healing difficulties.
Oral Cancer
The more you smoke, the greater the chance of being diagnosed with oral cancer. The dentist can identify signs of persistent lumps around the neck and ulcers in the mouth. Your teeth will eventually become loose.
If you’re protective of your smile, you must drop the smoking habit to preserve your pearly whites because smoking damages oral health. If you’re seeking support in restoring your smile, we are here to assist you. Contact our professional Dentist Hornsby team at Piazza Dental for an appointment. Get started here.
