Tobacco and the Negative Effects on Teeth

Tobacco has been proven as a cancer causing substance that ruins just about everything including oral hygiene. This article discusses those negative consequences to smoker’s mouths.

We’ve all heard it before, “Smoking is bad for you” but exactly how bad is bad?  Most people know that it causes cancer and hurts the lungs.  What these people overlook is the consequences to their oral hygiene that leave them running for a cosmetic dentist in Arizona.

Disease

Although gum disease can develop for many other reasons, smoking is related to at least half of the documented cases.  Gum disease causes inflammation to the gums and proceeds down into the root of the bones.

Eventually the bone will start to deteriorate and the teeth will fall out and at that point you’ll need to find a cosmetic dentist in Arizona to fix the problem.  One of the most popular solutions is dental implants, but smoking isn’t allowed in order to keep the implants healthy so eventually you will have to quit or develop more problems.

Oral Cancer

It’s true; you can get cancer in your mouth.  This type of cancer doesn’t get much publicity like breast cancer, but it has a higher kill rate at almost half.  Unless you are a tobacco user it is exceptionally rare that oral cancer will ever develop.

This means that oral cancer 9 out of 10 times is caused by tobacco. The longer a person has been smoking or chewing the greater their risk will be.  So if you’re planning on quitting don’t wait.

Prevention

It can’t be promised that if a person doesn’t smoke or stops using tobacco that they won’t develop these problems.  There is just a significantly higher risk for tobacco users than those who don’t. It’s not just smoking anymore. All tobacco is harmful including chew and inhaling second hand smoke unfortunately.

The best ways to combat these diseases is to quit smoking, brush your teeth regularly, and visit the dentist on a routine basis.  Stopping tobacco products will instantly lower the chances of developing oral cancer.

Once your teeth are free of regular tobacco use they’ll still be yellow for a while or forever, but the chances to create a healthy oral environment increase. Gum disease is less likely as long as healthy brushing and flossing habits have been established.

Your dentist will be you’re greatest weapon in restoring a healthy mouth.  Routine cleanings will clear out the plague buildup and they will be able to help reverse all of the damage already done so that Phoenix doesn’t have an increase in dental implants. Making healthy choices should be at the top of everyone’s to do list and the use of tobacco is not on that list.  Despite all of the consequences that come along with its use people still continue to smoke.  Hopefully with all of the knowledge that is out there those individuals can take certain steps to reduce their risk. And to those of you who’ve quit, congratulations.