In extreme cases, the long-term effects of smoking can result in tooth loss. Smoking is a significant contributor to serious gum disease. Bacteria (germs) on your teeth enter your gums and cause the beginning stages of gum disease. Layers of plaque (film) and tartar (hardened plaque) form if the bacteria remain on your teeth for an extended period of time.
Smoking is a well-known risk factor for many health conditions, and your oral health is no exception. In this post, we’ll explore the various ways in which smoking can damage your teeth and gums, as well as what you can do to prevent or treat the damage.
Effects of Smoking on Teeth
Smoking can have a number of negative effects on your teeth and gums, including:
Tooth decay: Smoking can cause tooth decay by reducing the amount of saliva in your mouth, which makes it easier for bacteria to grow and cause cavities.
Gum disease: Smoking can also increase your risk of gum disease, an infection of the tissues that support your teeth.
Stained teeth: The tar and nicotine in cigarettes can cause your teeth to become yellow or brown in colour.
Oral cancer: Smoking is a leading cause of oral cancer, which can affect the tongue, mouth, and throat.
Tooth loss: Gum disease and oral cancer can lead to tooth loss if left untreated.
Bad breath: Smoking can also cause bad breath due to the presence of chemicals and bacteria in the mouth.
How to Prevent Damage from Smoking
While the best way to prevent damage from smoking is to quit, there are a few steps you can take to minimise the damage to your teeth and gums:
Brush and floss regularly: This will help remove plaque and bacteria from your teeth and gums.
Use an antiseptic mouthwash: This can help kill bacteria and freshen your breath.
Visit your dentist regularly: Your dentist can help detect and treat any damage caused by smoking.
Quit smoking: The single most effective way to prevent damage from smoking is to quit.
Quitting Smoking and Teeth Health
Quitting smoking is the single most effective way to protect your teeth and gums from the damage caused by smoking. Not only will quitting smoking reduce your risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer, but it will also improve your overall health.
Treating Damage Caused by Smoking
If you have already sustained damage to your teeth and gums due to smoking, your dentist can help treat the damage. This may include:
Filling cavities: Your dentist can fill any cavities caused by tooth decay.
Scaling and root planing: This is a deep cleaning procedure that can help treat gum disease.
Gum surgery: In severe cases of gum disease, your dentist may recommend surgery to remove infected tissue.
Professional teeth whitening: This can help remove stains caused by smoking.
Oral cancer treatment: If oral cancer is detected, it is essential to get treated as soon as possible.
Smoking and Oral Cancer
Smoking is a leading cause of oral cancer, which can affect the tongue, mouth, and throat. Oral cancer can be life-threatening if left untreated, so it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms, which include:
Sores on the lips, tongue, or inside the mouth that don’t heal
White or red patches on the gums, tongue, or inside the cheeks
A lump or thickening in the cheek or neck
Numbness, pain, or tenderness in the mouth or lips
Difficulty swallowing or speaking
A change in the way your dentures fit
Smoking and Tooth Loss
Tooth loss can occur due to smoking, as it increases the risk of gum disease and oral cancer. Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth, and it can cause the gums to pull away from the teeth, creating pockets where bacteria can grow. If left untreated, the infection can damage the bones and connective tissues that support the teeth, leading to tooth loss. Oral cancer can also lead to tooth loss if it affects the jaw or mouth.
Smoking and Bad Breath
Smoking can also cause bad breath due to the presence of chemicals and bacteria in the mouth. The tar and nicotine in cigarettes can also coat the tongue and teeth, making it harder to remove bacteria and freshen breath.
How Does Smoking Cause Tooth Decay?
Smoking can cause tooth decay by reducing the amount of saliva in your mouth, which makes it easier for bacteria to grow and cause cavities. Saliva is important for neutralising the acid produced by bacteria, which can help prevent tooth decay.
When you smoke, the chemicals in cigarettes can dry out your mouth, reducing the flow of saliva and making it easier for bacteria to grow. Additionally, the tar and nicotine in cigarettes can also stick to your teeth and gums, providing a food source for bacteria to feed on. This can increase the number of bacteria in your mouth and the acid they produce, which can lead to tooth decay.
How Does Smoking Lead to Gum Disease?
Gum disease can occur due to smoking. Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth. The chemicals in cigarettes can damage the blood vessels in your gums, reducing the flow of blood and oxygen to the tissues. This can cause the gums to become inflamed and infected, leading to gum disease.
Additionally, the tar and nicotine in cigarettes can also stick to your teeth and gums, providing a food source for bacteria to feed on. This can increase the number of bacteria in your mouth and the acid they produce, which can lead to gum disease.
How Does Smoking Cause Staining of Teeth?
Stained teeth are a significant factor of smoking, due to the tar and nicotine in cigarettes. Tar is a sticky, dark-coloured substance that can build up on the surface of your teeth and cause them to become yellow or brown in colour.
Nicotine, on the other hand, is a yellowish substance that can also cause staining of teeth. These stains can be difficult to remove with regular brushing and may require professional teeth whitening. The heat from cigarettes can also cause the tooth enamel to expand and contract, which can make the teeth more susceptible to staining.
Smoking is a major risk factor for many oral health problems, including tooth decay, gum disease, oral cancer, and tooth loss. It also causes bad breath, stains on teeth and reduces the flow of saliva in the mouth.
The best way to prevent damage from smoking is to quit, but there are also steps you can take to minimise the damage and alternatives to smoking that can help improve your oral health. If you have already sustained damage to your teeth and gums due to smoking, it is important to see a dentist and get treated as soon as possible.
Contact our Wandsworth Dentist, today for a consultation!
