The Effects of Tobacco on Oral Health

Regular consumption of cigarettes and other tobacco products has been notorious for causing severe medical conditions such as lung cancer, emphysema, and heart disease. As the numbers alone have it, smoking kills 1 in every 5 people today.

According to the National Centre for Health Statistics, smokers are four times more likely to have a decline in oral health compared to non-smokers.

They develop various oral health problems and are less likely to visit their dentist regularly.

How Smoking Impacts Your Oral Health

Smoking cigarettes and other tobacco products holds a profoundly negative impact on both your dental and periodontal health.

This shouldn’t be surprising at all, considering that your mouth is essentially the initial point of contact between a lit cigarette and the rest of your body.

The tobacco content of a lit cigarette alone contains over 4,000 chemicals.

Many of these are poisonous chemicals, and at least 50 are proven to be cancer-causing ingredients known as carcinogens.

Frequent tobacco consumption has always played an active role in the growth of suspicious tissues, lesions, and sores in the mouth.

As such, smokers are found to have a higher risk of acquiring oral cancer compared to non-smokers.

Aggressive tooth decay and periodontal diseases, tobacco-stained teeth, and bad breath are among the many negative characteristics of tobacco usage.

Smoking also negatively impacts the senses – your sense of taste and smell, among others.

Smoking and Wisdom Teeth Removal

The surgical removal of wisdom teeth involves a dentist making an incision along the gum line, carefully removing the tooth, and then suturing the wound.

Access to this process is more challenging than regular extractions, and smoking after oral surgery increases the risk of complications.

Smokers are advised to quit for a few days following wisdom tooth removal surgery, as smoking will affect and slow down the healing process.

Maintaining Oral Health

It takes a lifetime commitment to maintain good oral health, but the effort is beneficial.

Here are some tips:

• Brush your teeth twice a day and use antibacterial mouthwash.
• Floss once a day to remove plaque and food particles
• Visit your Main Beach dentist twice a year for cleanings and check-ups.
• Quit smoking, eat healthy foods and limit sugary snacks
• Use ADA-approved dental products.

These guidelines help maintain a healthy mouth and protect against smoking-related risks, preventing costly problems in the future.

Oral Health in Gold Coast

Main Beach Dental understands the importance of healthy teeth and gums.

Make sure to take care of your teeth and gums if you want them to remain healthy for a lifetime. Stop smoking and see your dentist for advice, assistance, and future dental care instructions.

Main Beach Dental provides a wide range of dental treatments specially designed and tailored to your dental needs, from general dentistry, restorative dental procedures to cosmetic procedures.

Book your first appointment with your Main Beach dentist or call us on (07) 5503 1177 and claim your FREE Dental Consultation today!

Visit us at 11/26-30 Tedder Ave. in Main Beach.