Smoking can affect the health of the entire mouth, causing concern in general dentistry. Smoking cigarettes, cigars, or pipes can have adverse effects on not only the teeth but other structures inside the mouth as well. In fact, using tobacco in any form can affect oral health.
The effects of tobacco on dental health can sometimes be severe. Tobacco cessation can encourage improvements in oral health as well as the patient's general condition.
When a smoker goes in for a general dentistry examination, the dentist looks for signs of specific oral health problems that are common with tobacco use.
Most people's teeth are not perfectly white, but because tobacco causes stains on the surface of the enamel, the teeth of a smoker are more likely to be yellow or brown. A person who smokes often over a long period is likely to see more discoloration of the teeth develop at a faster pace. However, even people who do not smoke much but do so regularly may notice at least some staining.
While the fumes from a cigarette are odoriferous, it is not actually the smoke itself that causes tobacco users to have bad breath. Tobacco use decreases the production of saliva in the mouth. This promotes an environment in which bacteria can thrive. It is the byproducts of the bacterial growth that cause a smoker to have bad breath.
Because of the decreased saliva production in the mouth, plaque and tartar can build up more easily on the teeth. This can lead to large cavities, especially along the gumline. If the damage is severe enough, the teeth can also break.
When bacteria build up along the gum line due to decreased saliva production, it can cause infection. Smoking also seems to impair blood flow to the gums and interfere with the normal function of cells. By affecting the attachment of the soft tissue of the gums to the bone of the teeth, tobacco can lead to periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease decreases the strength of the gums and can progress to the jaw, resulting in bone loss. The combination of severe tooth decay, periodontal disease, and bone loss in the jaw can cause the teeth to loosen or fall out completely.
Using tobacco increases a patient's likelihood of developing oral cancer by six times compared to non-users. Out of patients who have cancer of the throat, lips, and tongue, 90% are tobacco users. If oral cancer goes undetected, it is more likely to spread to other areas of the body.
Smoking cessation helps to reduce the risk of serious oral health issues, such as cancer, periodontal disease, and tooth loss. Even in patients who already have periodontal disease from smoking, quitting tobacco use can help to slow the progression of the disease to the point where it might not result in tooth loss. Patients who stop using tobacco see both immediate and long-term improvements in oral health.
Tobacco use can cause serious oral health issues. With the help of general dentistry, quitting can result in significant improvements.
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