Smoking is severely harmful and has several effects on your teeth. While people are aware of the damages smoking causes to your lungs, it should not come as a surprise that it can significantly impact your oral health. Consult a dentist in Buffalo Grove to discuss preventive measures against damaged teeth.
Damages that smoking can cause to your teeth.
Below are some common issues smoking can cause to your teeth and oral health.
- Loss of Smell and Taste
Smoking can lead to losing the smell and taste of things and staining the tongue and teeth.
- Bad breath
Excessive cigarette consumption leads to halitosis or bad breath, causing a disgusting odor in the released breath.
- Increased buildup of bacteria, plaque, and tartar on the teeth
Plaque and tartar buildup are promoted by smoking, which further leads to cavities, decay, and even complete loss of teeth in severe cases.
- The immune system gets weaker.
The immune systems of consistent smokers get affected a lot. There are chances of them becoming immunocompromised. Weakening of immunity leads to inadequate defense against dental diseases.
- Periodontal and gum diseases
Smokers are more likely to suffer from gum and periodontal diseases than nonsmokers. This is because smoking damages the gums and tissues around the teeth.
- Mouth Sores and Ulcers
Smokers experience these issues much more often than normal people. It is a highly uncomfortable experience.
- Gum Recession
Smokers tend to suffer from gum diseases, which lead to the exposure of crown margins and recession of gums. Additionally, it complicates the process of maintaining dental hygiene and ruins the aesthetics of your teeth.
- Oral Cancer
The harmful chemicals in cigarettes mutate the healthy cells near your mouth and throat. This mutation is the leading cause behind the development of oral cancer in smokers. It is a fatal illness that is not easily curable.
- The success rate of dental implants
The rate of having a successful implant and restorative procedure also gets lowered. Smoking makes the process riskier.
- Healing after surgery gets slowed.
Smoking affects immunity, which further leads to a longer recovery time for dental diseases as well as restoration surgeries.
How to protect your teeth from the side effects of smoking?
By quitting smoking, you can avoid these harmful side effects and protect your teeth. Following these steps can ease the process.
- Start by fixing a date to quit and make sure you adhere to your plan.
- Seek professional assistance and family support. Let them know about your decision to quit.
- Take the help of distractions whenever you feel the urge to smoke. You can distract yourself by exercising or doing something that you love or that helps you relax.
- Make sure you are prepared for upcoming setbacks.
- Withdrawals and slip-ups are average and part of the process. Try to acknowledge it instead of shaming yourself. This helps in overcoming them.
- Take the assistance of medicines if necessary. Consult your doctor about the possible pros and cons of starting medication and take steps accordingly.