October 16, 2017

s.m.o.k.i.n.g. – Dr Tan

How can smoking affect your oral health?

Most people are now aware that smoking is bad for their health. It can cause a variety of different medical problems, some even fatal. However, many don’t realise the damage that smoking does to their mouth, gums, and also teeth.

Teeth staining
Bad breath
Diminishes sense of taste
Tooth decay
Gum disease
Tooth loss
Cancer

Staining is due to nicotine and tar in the tobacco. it makes your teeth yellow in a very short period of time, and heavy smokers often complain that their teeth are almost brown after years of smoking.
Fun fact, smoking causes bad breath too!
The problem is that routine brushing does not remove stains or reduce the bad breath. Therefore regular dental cleaning is mandatory!

Gum disease. Why?
People who smoke are more likely to produce bacterial plaque, which leads to gum disease, because smoking causes a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream, as a result, the gums don’l heal from the ongoing bacterial infection. In a long run, the plaque builds up quicker in smokers and gum disease worsens quicker too.
And what happens when you have gum disease? Tooth loss!

All in all, smoking is bad, not just for your teeth, but overall health as well.

If you have someone you care who is a smoker, be encouraging and supportive in guiding them to stop this habit. They can’t do it alone, they need your moral support in order to quit successfully.