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Tobacco use doesn’t just increase lung cancer, it also causes many oral diseases like oral cancer and periodontal disease. Among adults, periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss.
Tobacco use includes cigarettes, cigars, pipes (including hookah), and chewing tobacco. No matter what form of tobacco you use, it negatively affects your mouth.
If quitting is out of the question for you, visiting your dentist regularly will help immensely in maintaining your teeth and preventing further problems. However, the best thing to do for those who want a healthy mouth is to stop using tobacco.
The Risks
Using tobacco increases the amount of your mouth’s calculus—a hard material that can’t be removed by brushing and flossing. Visiting your dentist for regular check-ups is the only way to remove calculus. Dentists have to use ultrasonic tools and specialized sharp instruments to clean off excess calculus.
Aside from staining your teeth, calculus also contains bacteria that infect your gums and destroys your teeth. Left unattended, the bacteria will shrink bone and gum until your teeth loosen and fall out.
Continued tobacco use hides the symptoms commonly associated with periodontal diseases, making it significantly harder to detect and treat. Tobacco use decreases the amount of oxygen and nutrients sent to your gum and bones, which is what thwarts the healing process.
Tobacco use also causes bad breath, cancer, loss of smell and taste, a hairy, black tongue, and mouth sores and spots.
If you quit today, you’re one step closer to a healthy mouth. Either way, regularly visit your dentist for professional cleaning and advice on how to best take care of your teeth. For further information on the effects of tobacco on your oral health, contact your dentist today.
If you are interested in finding out more about maintaining excellent oral health, contact our Westerville dentists through our website or call us directly at 614-882-1135. Westerville Dental Associates standard is to be the very best at providing our patients “optimal care”, while making them “Feel Right at Home”.
