Impact of Smoking on Oral Health

Even though since the 1970s, the rate of smoking has headed toward a steady decline, tobacco is still the leading cause of preventable diseases in the United States.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 40 million U.S. adults still smoke; every single day, around 2000 under-18 young adults blow a puff from their first cigarette.
Smoking also contributes to nearly half a million premature deaths in the U.S. every single year, and almost 16 million citizens live with a serious health condition caused by smoking.

We all know how damaging smoking is for overall health, including the risk of fatal diseases. Many people still appear to be completely oblivious to the effects that smoking can have on their oral health.

They say a smile is forever, but if you’re someone who takes an occasional puff, smokes consistently, or is trying hard to find reasons to resist, here are 5 ways according to our dentists in Germantown, that smoking will ruin it for you, and how to get it back.

Yellow stains on your teeth

If you’ve been smoking for a while and your smile isn’t as bright as you’d like it to be anymore, don’t be surprised. Your teeth have tiny little pores, just like your skin, that allow tobacco particles like nicotine and tar to creep in and discolor your teeth to a yellow or even a brown. Many people, who have been smoking for a long time, claim that their teeth have a brown discoloration. This happens due to the nicotine deposits.

How to fix it

So can we get rid of these stains?
Years old tobacco stains are difficult to remove because the particles have settled deep into the enamel. However, that being said, they are not permanent and can easily be removed with professional dental services like teeth whitening or getting dental veneers.

Bad Breath

Bad breath affects a good 25% of the world population. A huge cause of this can be attributed to smoking. This happens majorly because smoking dries your mouth by stopping the continuous flow and cleansing function of saliva. This causes certain types of bacteria to collect and grow in your mouth, making it smell bad.

How to get rid of it

The ideal scenario would be to stop smoking and maintain good oral hygiene, but while you’re working on it, try fresh mints and regular brushing to cope up with the issue.

Reduced Ability to taste food

According to a new study, cigarette smoking not only increases your risk of mouth cancer and cardiovascular diseases, but it also reduced your ability to taste the food.

A study revealed that around 80% of smokers have a reduced ability to detect taste. This happens because smoking can affect the shape of your taste buds and the formation of blood vessels in your tongue.

How to fix it

According to dental experts, most issues caused by smoking will resolve on their own once you quit, because your body will improve its circulation. These issues include dull tastes and bad breath.
However, having a professional dental check up to assess your state of oral health is always a good idea.

If you’re in Germantown, MD, our dental team works morning, evening and weekend hours to accommodate you on your own schedule. Here is what our awesome clients say about us.