Smoking is widely known as something that can be harmful to one’s health. Most people are aware of that fact, even smokers themselves. Smoking can cause a lot of medical problems, including fatal ones like lung cancer, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. Smoking also has a lot of negative effects on oral health that are not as widely addressed. In fact, it is a major contributor to dental problems. It does so much damage to the mouth, gums, and teeth. This article will further discuss the effects of smoking on oral health.
Keep in mind that it does not matter if you smoke cigarettes, cigars, or a smokeless tobacco product, as long as there is exposure to a tobacco product—even second-hand—you are at risk of tobacco-related diseases. Of course, the number of times you have exposed yourself to tobacco products and the number of cigarettes you’ve smoked daily is also definitely a relevant factor.
What are the oral health complications that can be caused by smoking:
1. Bad Breath
Bad breath or halitosis is acquired because of many different factors but the type of food that you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits definitely worsen it or entirely cause it. One unhealthy lifestyle habit that can lead to bad breath is frequent smoking. Cigarettes contain ingredients that emit thousands of chemicals when burned which causes so many health issues, including bad breath.
2. Stained Teeth
Smoking tobacco exposes the teeth to nicotine and tar, which can effectively stain the teeth and make them appear yellowish in color in a very short amount of time. A lot of heavy smokers actually notice that after years of smoking, their teeth start to look almost brown.
3. Calgary Dentist Periodontal (Gum) Disease
The reason why smokers are susceptible to gum disease is that the consumption of tobacco products affects the attachment of bone and tissue to your teeth, which basically means that when you smoke, it interferes with the normal function of gum tissue cells. When this happens, you become at risk of periodontal disease because the interference makes you more likely to get infections and it also impairs blood flow to your gums, affecting wound healing. Another reason is that smokers tend to produce bacterial plaque which results in gum disease. Visit Inglewood Family Dental for periodontal care in Calgary.
4. Oral Cancer in Calgary Dentist
One of the unhealthy lifestyle habits that greatly contribute to an oral cancer diagnosis is smoking. In fact, a University of California study showed that 8 out of 10 oral cancer patients were smokers. That is because tobacco smoke has a lot of harmful chemicals that when it’s inhaled, first pass through the mouth and throat before reaching the lungs. Frequent and repeated exposure to harmful chemicals can cause changes to your oral cavity through time and can result in oral cancer. Ultimately, oral cancer is a very treatable disease especially if it is detected as early as possible. This is why routine dental check-ups and dental cleanings include oral cancer screening, so doctors can catch potential diseases and treat them early or prevent them from worsening.
All of these are preventable diseases or complications that can be avoided if you quit doing high-risk activities and unhealthy lifestyle habits like smoking and if you regularly visit your dentist for oral check-ups and exams. Discipline and changed behavior can contribute so much to maintaining your oral health and always keeping it in check. If you are looking for an affordable Calgary dentist for teeth cleanings and check-ups, as well as oral cancer screenings, call Inglewood Family Dental now at (403) 265-5888 to request an appointment!
Inglewood Family Dental
Phone: 403-265-5888
Address: 1420 9 Ave SE #24
City: Calgary
State: Alberta
Postal Code: T2G 0T5
Country: Canada
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