We all know that smoking can lead to serious health problems, including lung disease and heart disease. But what is less known is the severe impact smoking can have on your oral health. Yes, your smile pays a heavy toll when you light up. In this article, we’re going to explore the damage that smoking can do to your oral health, from causing oral cancer to negatively affecting your dental surgery recovery.
Smoking Can Cause Oral Cancer
Smoking has a notorious relationship with oral cancer, a perilous condition to grapple with. But what is the connection? Cigarettes are a concoction of over 60 known carcinogens. These harmful substances have the potential to alter the cellular structure within your mouth, sowing the seeds of oral cancer. The symptoms aren’t always overt but can include constant sores in your mouth, changes in your voice or difficulty swallowing. Alarmingly, if you’re a smoker, your chances of being diagnosed with oral cancer are up to six times higher compared to those who’ve never smoked. This highlights the urgency to reconsider your smoking habits.
The Impact of Tobacco on Teeth and Gums
Smoking paints a disheartening picture for your teeth and gums, which certainly isn’t something to smile about. The intense heat from the smoke couples with the cocktail of chemicals in cigarettes, stirring up a reaction with your mouth’s natural biome. The end result? Yellowing teeth and unpleasant breath that’s stubborn to shift. But there’s more; tobacco takes a jab at your saliva production, a pivotal player in cleaning your mouth and warding off decay. With reduced saliva flow, your mouth is left on the frontline, unarmed against cavities and gum disease.
Smoking and Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease, more commonly known as gum disease, is a grim by-product of smoking. The toxins in tobacco can sabotage your body’s defence system, making it a tough battle to fend off gum infections. What’s more, if your gums are already under siege, smoking acts as a roadblock to recovery. This is because it restricts blood flow, making it difficult for your gums to heal. For smokers, the risk of developing gum disease is double that of non-smokers, and the stakes only escalate the longer you smoke.
Effects of Smoking on Oral Surgery Recovery
It’s a lesser-known fact that smoking complicates the post-surgery recovery process in oral care. Procedures such as tooth extraction, dental implants, and gum disease treatments can be significantly hampered by the damaging influence of tobacco. Tobacco’s toxic mix can disrupt the functioning of your gum cells, thereby leading to potential complications in healing, increased chances of infections and in some instances, outright failure of the procedure. Consequently, dental professionals strongly advise giving up smoking before any oral surgery is undertaken.
How Quitting Smoking Improves Oral Health
There’s a silver lining to this cloud – quitting smoking brings tangible benefits for your oral health. Once you stub out that last cigarette, the healing process begins. A few days in, you’ll notice your gums are healthier due to better blood circulation. Give it a few weeks and you’ll be breathing fresher air, minus the off-putting smoker’s breath. A couple of months down the line, you may find your teeth becoming visibly brighter as stains start to fade. Over the years, your susceptibility to oral cancer also reduces dramatically. Sure, quitting is no walk in the park, but the rewards – a healthier smile and improved overall well-being – make it an effort worth undertaking.
Contact your Etobicoke dentist Cosentino Dental Care today at 416-234-2333 to schedule your next checkup and cleaning. Be sure to mention any concerns you may have so that we can properly address them with you.
