It is popular knowledge that smoking is dangerous for your health. Teen smoking rates are at record lows. Our office sees the first-hand destruction that smoking can do to the teeth and gums. The effects of smoking go beyond bad breath and yellow teeth. One problem with smoking is hoping to brush it away you’ll land yourself in a world of problems. Brushing is only a part of the solution. It doesn’t remove the stains or halitosis. More frequent cleanings can clear the teeth up and influence the decision to quit for good.

No Tobacco Is Safe

Any form of tobacco is not safe to use; it can cause severe oral health issues. Tobacco in all forms increases your risk of cancer, cavities, gum disease, heart disease, and causes mouth and throat lesions. It’s predicted that one smoke can take 7 minutes off your life. It can produce low self-esteem because of tooth staining, tooth loss, gum disease, bad breath and severe cases of mouth cancer that require surgical removal of oral tissues.

How Smoking Can Destroy Your Gums and Teeth

The mouth of a smoker is likely to produce bacterial plaque, which is the major cause of gum disease. Gums get infected and because smoking restricts oxygen flow in the bloodstream, the infected gums don’t heal. When periodontal disease is left to hope it heals, the infection, then has the potential to spread into both tissue and bone. Over time, bone damage will occur if left untreated. In severe cases, gum disease can cause so much damage that it needs surgical bone grafts to correct it.

No matter what type of problems you are experiencing with your teeth, many problems can be treated or stopped. In many cases, we can fix discoloration with cleaning, polishing, and some whitening procedures at our office. Decay can be treated by applying dental fillings, crowns, and the occasional root canal. Gum disease is often reversible by allowing us to deep clean your teeth and gums. If you have been delaying quitting. Making the step to start addressing your oral care is a great beginning to quit. Call us today to get started.