The majority of contemporary anti-smoking adds and promotions focus on the internal effects of smoking cigarettes such as cancer, heart disease, emphysema, indigestion and so many more. Not as much emphasis is placed on the smoke effects on teeth.
How Smoking Affects Teeth
Losing teeth due to smoking can not only affect the ability to eat, it can be quiet restrictive with the quality and quantity of food. Smoking also affects the gums which can cause not only tooth decay but also loss of teeth plus gum recession.
Why are Teeth so Affected by Smoking?
Inhaling smoke into the body affects every part of the body and especially the blood vessels and the airways via the lungs. The teeth are therefore affected in two ways, firstly directly by inhaling and the second way is through the circulation.
When we breathe in we breath in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. During this process there is an exchange of gases in the lungs where the lungs take up the oxygen and then gives back the carbon dioxide. This process during smoking is very damaging to the teeth when a person is smoking as it is affecting the teeth directly. More importantly it is affecting the circulation and of course that is why we see the way the smoke effects teeth.
4 Ways Smoking Affects Oral Health
Creates Tartar and Plaque
Some chemicals in tobacco affect the flow of saliva in the mouth. This makes it easier for oral bacteria to attach to gums and teeth. This smooth bacterial plaque can develop on teeth and along the gum line. This needs to be removed daily, otherwise it can harden into tartar. This tartar can be so hard it needs a dentist to remove it. Smokers are more likely to develop gum disease or periodontal disease, which can attack roots and cause teeth to fall out.
Smoking Interferes with Blood Circulation
When brushing teeth or even flossing, smokers are more likely to see their gums bleed and this happens more commonly with smokers.
The normal function of gum tissue is impacted by smoking. This causes infections and restricts blood flow. Healing time may be reduced after oral surgery for dental implants, tooth extraction or treatment of gum disease. Therefore the recovery process may be difficult.
Smoking Leads to Oral Cancer
According to WebMD, about 90 percent of people diagnosed with cancer of the mouth, throat or lips used tobacco. Smokers are six times more likely than non-smokers to develop oral cancers.
Bad Breath and Stained Teeth
Smoking can cause bad breath and often people notice their teeth are stained to a yellow colour.
Caring for your Teeth
We know smoking or use tobacco products increase the risk of oral health problems. However brushing twice daily, after breakfast and before bedtime will go a long way to protecting your teeth. Another important strategy is to each day especially after brushing the teeth at night.
Visit your dentist and have an assessment done so you know what needs to be done and ask for advice on how you can improve your oral hygiene.
Quitting smoking is the most important way of protecting the teeth and of course other areas of the body. This is often a challenge to people especially when they have possibly tried so many other ways/methods.
Are you a Smoker?
Hypnosis can help you quit smoking in only 60 minutes. Just as healthy habits can be developed, you can also get rid of your smoking habit, under the guidance of a Hypnotherapist.
Maureen Hamilton- Hypnotherapist
Maureen Hamilton is a Hypnotherapist and a Quit Cigarettes in 60 Minutes Specialist. Maureen is a specialist who uses the most effective process to help people quit cigarettes in just 60 minutes with an outstanding success rate of 97.5% using a proven and successful technique which has worked for thousands of clients. Maureen can help you and take you from being a smoker to a non-smoker in just one session and offering a Lifetime Guarantee.
Call Maureen on 1300 619 684 or have a look at those people who have quit smoking and loving their new life.