Smoking and Dental Health: Damages to Teeth and Ways to Protect Yourself
Smoking has many negative effects on general health, as well as causing serious damage to oral and dental health. It can lead to many problems, from yellowing teeth to gum disease, from bad breath to tooth loss. So, what are the damages of smoking to teeth and how can you protect yourself from these effects? Here are the details!
Harms of Smoking to Teeth and Oral Health
🦷 Yellowing and Staining of Teeth
The nicotine and tar in cigarettes cause teeth to turn yellow over time and even cause brown stains. Even regular tooth brushing cannot completely prevent these stains.
🦷 Gum Diseases and Inflammation
Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the gums, accelerating the formation of gum inflammation (gingivitis and periodontitis). This situation can progress to tooth loss.
🦷 Bad Breath (Halitosis)
Smoking causes bacteria that cause bad breath to accumulate in the mouth. It is very common for smokers to have bad breath problems.
🦷 Dry Mouth
Smoking reduces saliva production and causes dry mouth. Since saliva helps clean harmful bacteria in the mouth, when it decreases, tooth decay develops faster.
🦷 Tooth Decay
Since the oral flora of smokers is disrupted, bacteria multiply faster and decay formation accelerates.
🦷 Failure of Implants and Dental Treatments
The success rate of procedures such as dental implants, fillings and root canal treatment is lower in smokers. Smoking slows down the healing process and can negatively affect the success of treatments.
🦷 Oral Cancer Risk
The risk of mouth, tongue and lip cancer is 6 times higher in smokers than in non-smokers. Long-term smoking increases the risk of cancer by damaging the DNA of cells in the mouth.
Ways to Protect Yourself from the Harmful Effects of Smoking
✔ Reduce or Quit Smoking
The most effective way to prevent the harms of smoking to your teeth and oral health is to quit smoking.
✔ Regular Teeth Brushing
Prevent plaque formation by brushing your teeth at least twice a day.
✔ Don’t Neglect Your Dentist Check-ups
Follow the damages of smoking by visiting your dentist regularly every 6 months and have a professional cleaning.
✔ Have Tartar and Plaque Cleaning
Since tartar formation accelerates in smokers, you can protect your gum health by having regular tartar cleaning.
✔ Use Mouthwashes
You can use antibacterial mouthwashes to reduce bad breath and bacteria caused by smoking.
✔ Eat a Balanced Diet and Drink Plenty of Water
Consume foods rich in vitamins and minerals to support your oral health, and increase saliva secretion by drinking water.
Conclusion
Smoking can cause yellowing of teeth, gum disease and even tooth loss. However, you can minimize these negative effects with proper oral care and regular dentist check-ups. The healthiest solution is to quit smoking completely. For a healthy and white smile, review your smoking habits and pay attention to your oral health! 😊🦷
