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How Smoking Harms Your Teeth
Posted on May 13th, 2021
A Dangerous Habit
Smoking is known to lead to many serious health conditions, from heart disease and cancer, to lung disease, and even death. However, despite the common knowledge that smoking is bad for your health, many people still struggle to break the habit. This is because even when someone wants to quit smoking, the addictive chemical nicotine makes it extremely difficult.
It should be noted that while smoking is known to cause serious issues like lung cancer and emphysema, it can also be detrimental to our oral health. Smoking cigarettes, cigars, vaping, and chewing tobacco can all lead to gum disease, tooth loss, tooth discoloration, and various other conditions.
What Smoking and Tobacco Products Do to Our Teeth
- Staining – Unsurprisingly, smoking leads to tooth discoloration. Nicotine buildup occurs on the surfaces of teeth, changing the color of enamel from white to yellow over time, and sometimes even brown. If you are a smoker or tobacco user, it is recommended you receive frequent dental cleanings to help keep your teeth white.
- Bad Breath – Smoking leads to bad breath. This is not just because the chemicals and particles from smoke are left behind after lighting up a cigarette, but also because smoking dries out the mouth.
- Gum Disease – Using any form of tobacco increases your risk for gum disease. Smoking inevitably weakens the immune system, and so your body has a difficult time fighting germs that linger in your mouth. Smokers, as opposed to non-smokers, actually have twice the chance of developing gum disease. (Gum disease is an infection of the gum tissue that causes inflammation, pain, tooth loss, receding gums, bleeding gums, delayed healing, damage to the jaw bone in some cases, and other issues.)
- Oral Cancer – Smoking and tobacco are often the cause of many types of cancer, but tobacco use is specifically linked to oral cancer, which is notoriously difficult to treat. Oral cancer can be further defined as cancer of the tongue, lips, cheeks, throat, sinuses, or other surrounding areas.
Periodontist in Chicago & Family Dentist Near the Loop
Quitting smoking is difficult, but considering what kind of damage the habit does to our bodies, we know that the rewards are well worth the struggle.
If you are searching for a reliable, family dentist in the Loop to help you better your oral health, and provide quality dental services from cosmetic dentistry to dental cleanings in Chicago, look no further than Windy City Family Dental. Our helpful staff are here to help you keep your smile big and bright for years to come.
