What You Need To Know About Smoking And Tooth Decay

There is plenty of evidence to suggest a strong link between smoking and oral health problems such as tooth decay. Smoking has been shown to cause problems such as tooth staining, increase build up of plaque, increased chance of cavities and gum disease and also a higher risk of mouth oral cancer. Smoking has also been show to reduce overall bone density in the mouth which can lead to a number of problems including jaw conditions.

How Does Smoking Affect the Gums?

Smoking appears to affect the gums by reducing blood flow. This decreases the ability of the soft tissue to attach itself to the bones and can cause a number of problems including receding and inflammation. This also impairs the gums natural healing abilities which makes it more likely for smokers to get gum disease.

How Does Smoking Affect the Teeth?

Smoking also impairs blood flow to the living inner tissue of the tooth. This too can impair natural healing and can reduce enamel density, leaving teeth more prone to attack from plaque. There is an increased risk of cavities and general dental decay for smokers.

If you are a smoker then you need to be more vigilant about oral health than non-smokers as the risks of developing serious oral conditions are much higher for you. Make sure you visit a dentist every six months for a full check up. If you have toothache or damage a tooth then make an appointment straight away before the problem can get any worse.

Quit Smoking

To help reduce the risks of dental problems and improve overall health it is important to stop smoking as soon as possible. The risks of developing serious mouth conditions such as periodontal disease are significantly reduced after a few years of quitting smoking. Also after eleven years the risks are no more for ex-smokers that for those people who have never smoked. The risks of contracting mouth lesions known as leukoplakia are also significantly reduced within just 6 weeks of quitting smoking.

Quitting smoking can be very difficult though, but even cutting down can help. Studies have shown the smokers that reduce their smoking habit to just 10 cigarettes a day are six times less likely to suffer from mouth disease than those who smoke more than 30 cigarettes per day. Your doctor will be able to provide more advice on how to quit smoking and there are many over-the-counter medications that can help you control the cravings for nicotine. Some local surgeries and healthcare centres also run smoking cessation classes which can help provide the support you need to finally kick the habit. Some people find holistic remedies such as acupuncture and hypnosis can also help them to give up smoking.