Smoking Negatively Impacts Your Health
Almost everyone is now aware of the dangers and risks that smoking poses to their health and the health of those that are close to them. Many health organizations and governments have done a good job of educating people about the negative effects.
It causes lung cancer, throat cancer, heart disease, diabetes, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It also increases your risk for issues such as tuberculosis, immune system disorders and certain eye diseases.
It affects almost every organ of the body and is also the major cause of preventable death.
Impact On Dental Health
Smoking causes numerous issues in the mouth, which can lead to reduced senses of taste and smell. It also causes bad breath, also known as halitosis and can cause severe staining on teeth with prolonged use.
This buildup of stain, makes it easier for dental plaque to accumulate on the teeth. When enough plaque has accumulated and is allowed to sit on the teeth undisturbed, it hardens into what it called tartar or calculus. Buildup of plaque and tartar is to gingivitis and periodontal disease
Smoking can also cause increased sensitivity to hot and cold. It also causes delayed healing after dental procedures, because it affects the immune system. It may also lead to increased heart rates, breathing difficulties and coughing.
Smoking & Periodontitis
Periodontitis is a severe dental condition that affects the gums and bone in the mouth. Gingivitis will progress to periodontitis, if left untreated. Periodontitis is the breakdown of gum and bone tissue in the mouth. When bone is lost in the mouth, the gum tissue around the bone will also shrink, leading to dental recession. Dental recession causes teeth to wear away quicker and may lead to sensitivity when eating hot or cold foods.
Smoking doubles the rate of bone loss associated with periodontitis! This eventually leads to loose teeth that will need to be removed or replaced. When too much bone is lost, many of the tooth replacement options are difficult to use, because they rely on a certain amount of bone to be effective.
Dental implants require a certain level of bone for the implant to be successfully placed in the mouth. When too much bone loss occurs, bone and gum grafting is necessary, before a dental implant can be placed. Requiring bone and gum grafts, results in longer treatment times.
Complete and partial dentures are also be affected by bone loss. As the bone levels shrink, due to periodontitis and/or smoking, the dentures will not fit properly. This will require that the dentures be relined or adjusted to fit the new lowering bone level.
While the effects of smoking on our overall health are widely promoted, the dental impact is not widely known. Smoking affects a person’s quality of life, by affecting the way that food tastes. It also forces some people to avoid certain foods completely, due to bone and tooth loss, caused by smoking and/or periodontal disease both.
If you need help quitting smoking, talk to your doctor or dentist. They can provide the resources you need to help with manage the habit.
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