Smoking or using chewing tobacco can have lasting effects on your oral health and physical health. Tobacco is an addictive substance, which makes it hard to quit using it, even if it has noticeable effects on your teeth or jaw. Those who smoke regularly or chew tobacco will start to have bad breath, discolored teeth, and more. In this blog, we will share what tobacco does to your oral health and why you should work to limit tobacco use.
Tooth Discoloration
Tobacco causes yellow teeth or dark spots across your gums and teeth. The nicotine and tar that are in cigarettes cause yellowing in your tooth enamel. Nicotine can oxidize and turn yellow. Smoking can also cause brown or black stains because of the tar that is used in cigarettes. Smoking multiple cigarettes a day will darken any stains that you already have.
Bone And Tooth Loss
One of the biggest risks of using tobacco is bone deterioration in your jaw and the rest of your face. Losing bone in your jaw will cause your face to look distorted, cause chewing problems, and problems talking, and may lead to surgery with rods needed to keep your facial muscles in the right place.
Tobacco can also lead to tooth loss because of enamel decay. This decay can also cause gaps between teeth, or the teeth separating from the gums. This can lead to tooth extraction or needing dental implants to make your smile look more natural.
Increased Risk Of Gum Disease
Having regular dental checkups will help you avoid gum disease, but tobacco can increase your risk of developing gum disease. Smoking and improper oral care can cause inflamed gums, bad breath, and spaces between your teeth. All of these symptoms are signs you have gum disease and need to consult with your dentist about what to do next.
Once you have developed gum disease, you need to quit smoking and using tobacco immediately. Continuing to worsen the bacterial infection with nicotine and tar from any kind of tobacco will cause further pain in your mouth.
Slower Healing Process After Oral Surgery
If you have had wisdom teeth extraction, a filling, or a root canal, smoking or chewing can slow down the healing process. Taking a break from chewing tobacco and smoking will help you heal properly and avoid issues like dry sockets, further cavities, or bacteria growth. Smoking will cause you to have more pain in your gums or sockets after surgery. This not only will extend the healing process but will make it more difficult for you to complete daily functions. Having an infection after a major surgery will prevent complete healing.
Bad Breath
Tobacco causes bad breath because of the contents but also because of the increased risk of bacteria growth in your mouth. Overgrowth of bacteria in your mouth or on your tongue causes your breath to smell odd. The chemical compounds from the tobacco mix with your saliva which causes a smokey breath. Even some of the leftover smoke or tar can linger in your throat and cause bad breath.
Alters Your Taste And Smell
Using tobacco can alter your tastebuds and the nerves in your nose which can change smells and tastes of foods. This can be bad for your physical and oral health because you may avoid foods that are good for you. Many fruits and vegetables are needed to reduce inflammation and keep your teeth healthy. Avoid smoking or chewing tobacco when food starts to become unappealing.
Prevent Tobacco Damage With Sunset Dental
All members of our staff at Sunset Dental are proud to serve patients of all ages. Our office serves patients in Sunset, Clinton, Syracuse, and other surrounding cities. We are proud to be a resource to many in the community when it comes to proper gum and tooth health.
We know that tobacco use is a hard habit to break, but our dentist can help provide tips and reasoning on how you can kick this bad habit. Our office also provides multiple services to give you the best smile possible. Some of our services include cosmetic dentistry or general dental cleanings, Our dentist Dr. Ryder Waldron can help you.
If you are looking for dental bridges, TMJ treatments, dental extractions, root canals, or more, contact Sunset Dental.