We know smoking is bad news for your overall health but the effects it can have on oral hygiene isn’t necessarily common knowledge. Patients often come to dental professionals in Pekin, IL with severely damaged teeth because of their smoking habits which have a negative impact that extends beyond bad breath. Recognizing these hazards will make you want to stop smoking and it can save your teeth says a dentist in Pekin, IL.
How Smoking Affects Your Oral Health
1. Teeth Stain and Discolor
The staining of teeth is one of the most immediate results of smoking. Nicotine and tar are rapidly absorbed by your teeth causing yellowing to occur practically overnight, which can further worsen with brown or black stains over time. What makes it challenging to remove is that not only do they look bad in your smile; but, you cannot get them by simply brushing at home without a professional dental cleaning.
2. Increased Risk of Gum Disease
Smoking raises the risk for periodontal disease, and smokers tend to be more severely affected by gum bleeding. Tobacco chemicals impair immune function, causing the body to have a more difficult time fighting infections in the gums. The result is inflammation, gum recession, and eventually tooth loss — if not treated in time.
3. Slow in Healing After Dental Work
Blood needs to flow freely to the gums for proper healing after any type of dental work (such as extractions, implants, and periodontal treatments) but smoking can impede this normal post-operative function. Such slow healing can result in complications, and infections and even cause a failure of treatments like dental implants to take root.
4. Bad Breath & Oral Health Issues
Smoking is a leading cause of chronic bad breath (halitosis). Tobacco is full of chemicals and those suckers stick in your mouth causing you to stink horribly, smelling like an ashtray. Smoking also leads to lower saliva production which is required for self-cleaning of the mouth by neutralizing bacteria causing bad odor and aids in maintaining overall oral health.
Keeping Your Smile Healthy: What You Can Do
1. Quit Smoking
The best way to take care of your oral health is simply: to quit smoking. This is tough, but the reward is immediate and lifelong. Quitting smoking positively affects your teeth by lowering potential gum disease, oral cancer, and other severe dental problems.
2. Regular Dental Check-Ups
Getting your teeth checked regularly by a dentist in Pekin, IL is mandatory if you want to keep them safe and healthy. Dentists can recognize the early signs of gum disease, oral cancer, and other smoking-related issues so that timely intervention can prevent them from becoming more serious.
3. Professional Teeth Cleaning
Occasional professional teeth cleanings can also help smokers manage discoloration as well as remove staining that has had many months to bond with their damaged tooth enamel. Doing so offers the advantages of a whiter smile and also less risk of gum disease.
4. Oral Cancer Screenings
Due to the heightened risk of oral cancer for smokers, they must have regular oral cancer screenings. These screenings can help catch signs of cancer early.
Tobacco use increases your chances of developing oral health problems, ranging from cosmetic (stained teeth) to serious—such as periodontal disease and even oral cancer. Dentists in Pekin, IL work with patients to inform them about the health risks associated and encourage steps that are possible for you. Quitting smoking, and keeping up with regular dentistry can help keep your teeth bright and healthy for years to come
