Dental Health and Smoking
If you are trying to quit smoking you have already heard about the effects of smoking on your health. If that is not enough encouragement to stop, take a minute to learn about the effects of tobacco use on your teeth and mouth.
Your smile is often the very first thing that people notice about you. Therefore, a healthy smile is usually important to most people. A first impression almost always involves your oral health. No one wants their teeth to be discolored or to be known as having bad breath. It is often the reason many quit smoking.
Here is another good reason. Smoking is the most significant risk factor and a major contributor to dental problems. Even moderate smokers soon realize that consistent brushing is not enough to remove stains caused by tobacco. But are the stains the biggest problem?
Effects on Teeth and Mouth
Use of tobacco (smoking or chewing) causes stained teeth, bad breath, and a loss of or reduced sense of taste. But worse, in time, it can weaken your immune system. It also, reduces the body’s ability to recover from surgery. That includes dental surgery and treatments for gum disease and other dental problems. Likewise, dental restoration efforts can be challenging especially when gums have been distorted by continual infections.
More serious still is the risk of oral cancer. Chewing tobacco and to a lesser degree smoking increase your risk. Oral cancers can be extremely dangerous because of the many of blood vessels and lymph nodes in proximity.
Help to Quit
A visit to your dentist can provide a powerful motivation to quit. We all want white teeth, fresh breath, and a healthy mouth. With help from your dentist, you can achieve that. It is not too late to start improving your dental, and overall health.
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