Effects of Smoking on Oral Health

People don't realize how smoking can affect oral health. Smoking can greatly damage teeth, gums and jawbone. In fact, it is one of the major causes for gum disease. Smoke changes the type of bacteria in the plaque, increasing the bacteria that can be more harmful. It also decreases the flow of blood in gums and the tissues that support the teeth thus making it more prone to gum disease. Gum disease in smokers can easily and quickly get worst than the people who doesn't smoke.

Affects Of Smoking On Oral health

Following will make you understand how smoking affects oral health:

• Staining of teeth: Smoking can lead to staining of teeth that can make your smile look bad. It requires professional help for removing those stains.

• Bad Breath: One of the main causes for bad breath is smoking. Not only does nicotine make your mouth dry but also tar gets accumulated in cavities easily. These lead leads to the condition halitosis (bad breath).

• Tooth decay: By smoking, plaque in your mouth increases which cause tartar to develop that can further leads to tooth decay.

• Gum disease: Smoking interferes in the functioning of gum tissue cells, thus gums get damaged by separating from the bone making it more prone to infections. People who smoke are more likely to have periodontal disease - an advanced stage of gum disease.

• Tooth loss: Advanced gum disease can even lead to deterioration of jaw bone and tooth loss.

• Oral Cancer: There are increased chances of oral cancer for people who smoke. Studies show 90% people who suffer from oral cancer are tobacco smokers.

• Swelling of salivary glands: Smoking also causes swelling of salivary glands.

• Delays healing process: If tooth is extracted in people who smoke, healing process is very slow which can even lead to a condition known as dry socket ( a condition where the bone and nerves are exposed due to loss of blood clot ).

• Black hairy tongue: Smoking causes black hairy tongue which means bacterial growth on tongue.

• Leukoplakia: There are increased chances of leukoplakia for the people who are the chain smokers. It is a condition when white patches occur inside the mouth.

• Tooth discoloration: Smoking can also lead to discoloration of teeth.

Effects of smoking are so bad that it makes difficult to live a healthy lifestyle. So, if you are not a smoker, don't think of starting it. And if you already smoke, think of quitting it.