Most people are wise enough to know about the effects of smoking and other tobacco products on general health. They are aware of many medical conditions that are the result of smoking tobacco. Still, fewer people are well aware of the effects of smoking and other tobacco products on teeth, gums, and the oral cavity. It can cause serious damage to your mouth.
Here are some of the effects of smoking and other tobacco products on oral health
-
Teeth staining and discoloration
Many smokers and smokeless tobacco users can notice their pearly whites turning more yellowish or brownish in no time as they start to smoke. The more you smoke, the more likely you are to notice discoloration of your teeth. The severity of discoloration depends on the amount of smoke and how long you smoke tobacco products.
The main cause of dental staining for smokers is nicotine and tar.
The tar adds a brown tinge to the teeth, while the nicotine, when combined with oxygen, causes yellowing of the teeth.
-
Gum disease and tooth loss
Smoking is an important cause of severe gum disease around the world. It causes loss of attachment of gums to the teeth and also bone loss. When the teeth lose their support from the gums and bone, they are likely to get loose and might fall off too. Smokers are twice as likely to have gum infections compared to non-smokers.
Smoking weakens your body’s infection fighters(immune system), which makes it harder to fight off gum infection.
Once you have a gum infection, smoking also makes it harder for your gums to heal, as tobacco causes poor blood supply to the gums.
Smokers are twice as likely to have gum infections compared to non-smokers.
-
Bad breath
“Smoker’s breath” is a stale scent that is created by cigarette smoke that is still lingering in your throat and lungs. Smoking also leaves chemical compounds in your mouth that can mix with your saliva and cause bad breath.
Saliva production in your mouth decreases due to smoking, and your mouth can become dry. In dry mouth, compounds of cigarette and other tobacco products, along with bacteria in the mouth, get an opportunity to thrive without any saliva to control their activities or flush them out. This all leads to deterioration of the mouth and bad breath.
-
Mouth cancer
Smoking is one of the main factors causing mouth cancer, which includes the tongue, cheek, roof, or floor of the mouth, and lips. Every year, thousands of people die from mouth cancer brought on by smoking. According to research, about 90% of people diagnosed with mouth, throat, and lip cancer used tobacco. Smokers are six times more likely than nonsmokers to develop oral cancers.
People who smoke and drink alcohol have an even greater risk of developing mouth cancer than those who just do one or the other. Like cigars and cigarettes, smokeless tobacco products( eg, snuff, paan, gutka, etc) contain at least 28 chemicals that increase the risk of oral cancer and throat cancer.
Chewing tobacco contains higher levels of nicotine than cigarettes, making it even harder to quit than cigarettes. One can of snuff delivers more nicotine than over 60 cigarettes. But it’s never too late to quit smoking, as those who quit have the same risk of developing mouth cancer as non-smokers.
Early diagnosis is important, so treatment can start as early as possible before cancer spreads to other parts of the body.
Symptoms of mouth cancer
i. Persistent ulcer in your mouth or on your lip that doesn’t disappear even after 7-10 days, particularly if the ulcer is painless.
ii. A white or red patch in your mouth
iii. Swelling in your mouth
If you notice any of these symptoms, it might be the effect of smoking, then you should contact your dentist or general practitioner.
Other common effects of smoking and smokeless tobacco products in the oral cavity:
- Delayed wound healing following teeth removal, any gum surgery, or oral surgery due to decreased blood supply to the oral cavity.
- Tooth decay, typically as large cavities that exist around the gum line in tobacco-using patients, is common.
- Decreased taste due to smoking, as it can dull or kill your taste buds.
You May Also Like: