Many people know that smoking is bad for their health because it causes a variety of complications, some of which are fatal. However, they may not realize the damage that smoking does to their teeth and gums.
Smoking can make it challenging to clean bacteria and plaque from your teeth. This increases your risk of developing gum disease, tooth decay, and other diseases that can cause tooth loss. Additionally, the tar and nicotine in cigarettes can stain your teeth, which impacts their appearance and can distort your smile.
You must consult an experienced dentist if you experience the symptoms of different dental complications. The dentist will assess your overall health to determine the root cause before recommending the appropriate treatment. Additionally, the dentist will advise you on proper lifestyle changes, which include quitting smoking.
Smoking has the following effects on your teeth and overall oral health:
Gum Disease and Tooth Loss
One of the common complications caused by smoking is gum disease. Gum disease, or periodontitis, is an infection of the gums that can affect other structures, including teeth and the jawbone. Bacteria from leftover food particles under the gums and between teeth initiate the disease.
If the bacteria remain on the teeth and gums for a long time, a sticky film of plaque is formed. The buildup will result in more bacteria, which causes an infection. Gum disease develops in different stages. This condition can be reversed when detected early on. However, when left untreated, gum disease results in jawbone loss and tooth loss.
Smoking is a significant contributor to the development of gum disease. This is because smoking weakens immunity. This makes it harder for the body to fight bacterial infections. The tar and nicotine from the sky also make products stick to your teeth. Tartar and plaque cannot be completely removed by regular brushing and flossing. Therefore, you must undergo extensive professional cleaning to restore your teeth.
Oral Cancer
Oral cancer is a broad term describing cancer that affects different parts of the oral cavity. Cancer can affect your tongue, lips, and roof of your mouth. When left untreated, oral cancer could spread to other areas, including the head and neck.
Many types of oral cancer are linked to smoking cigarettes, pipe smoking, and cigars. This is because the components of these products often weaken your immunity and increase your risk of developing cancer. Additionally, smoking creates a conducive environment in the mouth of the virus that causes cancer to thrive.
If you are a smoker and are experiencing the following symptoms, you must consult with your dentist for further assessment to determine whether you have oral cancer:
- Numbness and bleeding of the gums
- Swelling on the lips and gums
- Loose teeth
- Red and white patches on your lips or gums
- Change in the fit of your dentures
The symptoms of oral cancer can mimic those of other oral health complications. Therefore, your dentist could perform further diagnostic procedures, such as biopsy, X-rays, endoscopy, and CT scans.
Oral cancer can have devastating effects on your teeth and gums. This could include failure of dental procedures like implants. Additionally, oral cancer damage to the mouth tissues and jawbone can cause the loosening and falling out of your teeth.
Teeth Discoloration
Smoking will affect not only your health but also the appearance of your teeth. Every person deserves a bright and pearly smile. Unfortunately, that becomes difficult to achieve or maintain when a smoker. According to the National Institute of Health, 28% of smokers have moderate to severe teeth discoloration compared to 15% of non-smokers.
Teeth discoloration occurs when your tooth enamel turns yellow or brown. Additionally, the teeth may develop dark spots, which distort your smile. Smoking is a leading cause of tooth discoloration due to theories of tar and nicotine in these products. Additionally, smoking reduces the secretion of saliva. Saliva is an important component of oral health since it helps clean your teeth and gums.
Smoking stains are difficult to remove from tooth enamel, and correcting your smile may require different cosmetic procedures, like whitening.
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is a common impact of smoking on oral health. It is the damage caused by bacteria overgrowth in the mouth and gums. Poor oral hygiene or other lifestyle habits, like smoking, make the mouth conducive to cavities, allowing bacteria to thrive.
When the bacteria accumulate around your teeth and gums in a firm of tartar and plaque, they produce acids that erode the tooth enamel, causing dental caries. The symptoms of tooth decay that you should look out for include toothache, bad breath, swelling of the gums, and sensitivity.
When left untreated, tooth decay can progress to damage the pulp and root of the tooth. Smoking increases the risk of developing cavities by making it easy for bacteria to grow around your teeth and gums.
Gum Recession
Gum recession is when the gum tissues surrounding your teeth are pulled away. When our gums recede, a gap develops between the gums and the teeth. Although genetics and poor oral hygiene could cause the gums to recede, smoking, vaping, or tobacco use can predispose you to the condition.
Smokers are more likely to suffer from gum recession. This occurs when sticky plaques form around the gums and teeth, resulting in an infection of the gums. Infected gums are often inflamed and may move further away from the teeth.
When you have receding gums, the roots of your teeth are exposed to bacteria. Additionally, the teeth may be exposed to hot or cold food and drinks, which causes sensitivity. Although gum recession can be treated, the treatment may be less effective for smokers due to lowered immunity.
Loss of Jawbone
A jawbone is a critical part of your face and oral structure. It provides a structure for your facial features and lets you speak and chew properly. Your jawbone must remain healthy to support your teeth. Atrophy of the jawbone will result in various dental complications, including tooth loss.
Several factors of your oral health and lifestyle can contribute to the loss of your jawbone, and they include periodontal disease, trauma, and smoking. Smoking reduces the blood flow to your jawbone and can cause it to deteriorate gradually. Additionally, smoking can cause infections that eat away at the jawbone. According to Webmed, many cigar smokers suffer tooth loss and alveolar bone loss.
The loss of your jawbone can cause instability in your teeth. This will shift the teeth out of their position and cause misalignment issues. Additionally, jawbone atrophy could limit your ability to undergo dental procedures like dental implants. Although implants are an excellent solution for missing teeth, you must have a strong and healthy jawbone for the procedure to be effective.
Some of the symptoms of jaw bone loss could include:
- Discomfort when chewing
- Loosening and shifting of your teeth
- Jaw pain
- Shrinking gums
Jawbone loss is a gradual process. By managing your smoking habits or quitting, you can keep your jawbone healthy and protect your teeth from weakening, shifting, and loss.
Bad Breath
Bad breath, or halitosis, is an unpleasant odor from your mouth. Halitosis is a common problem among adults and children and can cause psychological distress. Although bad breath may be caused by eating or drinking foods and beverages with an odor, it often indicates an underlying dental complication.
Several factors, including your oral hygiene and family habits, can cause bad breath. A common habit that could cause halitosis is smoking. Compared to nonsmokers, smokers have a higher chance of having bad breath. Based on information from the National Institute of Health.
The nicotine in tobacco and cigarettes leaves an unpleasant smell in your mouth when you use them. Smoking also impairs immunity, which makes it harder to fend off mouth infections. Bad breath can also be a symptom of gum disease or mouth infections. Breath odor might lower your self-confidence and make it harder for you to socialize. When you stop smoking, you can get rid of bad breath in addition to practicing good dental hygiene.
Dental Implant Failure
Dental implants are a common choice for tooth replacement. Unlike dentures and bridges, an implant feels and looks more like a natural tooth. Dental implants consist of a titanium screw attached to the jawbone and a replacement tooth anchored by the roof. A dental implant procedure is an invasive surgery that requires you to be healthy for effectiveness.
When the procedure is done correctly and heels effectively, dental implants look and function like natural teeth. Several factors could impact the success of your dental implant procedure, including smoking. The following are some impacts of smoking on your dental implants:
- Slow recovery. After the attachment of a titanium screw to the jawbone, your mouth will require some time to recover. During this time, the artificial root is expected to osseointegrate with the jawbone to support the replacement tooth effectively. Smoking reduces blood flow to the jawbone, slowing the implant’s recovery.
- Implant failure. The use of tobacco and cigarettes can increase the risk of implant failure. An implant fails when the artificial root fuses with the jawbone properly. This occurs when the nicotine in these products weakens the bone, making it difficult to fuse.
- Infection. Chemicals like tar and nicotine found in cigarettes weaken your immunity, making it difficult for the body to fight off infection at the dental implant location. An infection will then result in inflammation and swelling around the implant and call for additional surgical procedures.
A dental implant is expected to replace lost teeth and support the remaining natural teeth. When the implants fail, you can suffer a loss of your jawbone and loss of remaining teeth.
Practical Ways to Quit Smoking
The effects of smoking on your teeth may be long-lasting. Although some dental complications caused by this habit can be treated to correct and improve your smile, you may need to undergo painful dental procedures. For this reason, your dentist can recommend that you quit smoking to protect your teeth. The following are some tips to quit smoking and protect your teeth:
- Avoid triggers. Being around someone who smokes can trigger your cravings. Therefore, if you want to quit smoking, you must surround yourself with people and environments that encourage you to quit the habit and not relapse.
- Nicotine replacement therapy. Frequent smoking results in addiction. You can feed the nicotine addiction through nicotine replacement therapy. This could include chewing nicotine gum or using a nicotine patch.
- Stay busy. Staying busy can distract you from managing the cravings for smoking. When you feel the urge to smoke, you can embark on another activity to distract your mind.
- Remember the Benefits of Quitting. Smoking can cause long-lasting effects on your teeth and overall oral health. When you quit smoking, you can improve your oral hygiene and reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Every time you are tempted to smoke, you can think of the benefits of quitting.
- Seek therapy. Breaking the habit of smoking can be challenging. Therefore, seeking therapy can help you find new ways to cope without damaging your oral health with smoking.
Find Expert Dental Services Near Me
Smoking contributes to a wide range of dental complications. These include tooth loss, gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth discoloration. Additionally, the tar and nicotine in cigarettes and vapor can slow down health and reduce the effectiveness of dental procedures like implants.
Treating the complications caused by smoking will require extensive cosmetic and treatment procedures. Even after treatment, most of these complications will recur if you return to your smoking habits. Therefore, your dentist can recommend quitting or controlling your smoking habits to protect your teeth.
Your oral health is a significant aspect of your overall health; you will not entrust it to anyone. Therefore, if you suffer from dental complications related to smoking, you will require the services and guidance of a competent dentist. At The Lakewood Dentist, we offer safe, affordable, and effective dental care services for our clients in Lakewood, CA. Call us at 562-423-1441 to book an appointment.