If you’ve been informed that smoking is unhealthy for you, you’re not alone! Smoking’s long-term consequences can be severe, resulting in various general and oral health issues.
Despite the numerous warnings about the harmful effects of smoking on one’s health, most smokers prefer to overlook these warnings while shamelessly disregarding its numerous consequences.
So, what’s the connection between smoking and oral health? What are the consequences of smoking on your teeth and gums? Where can you look for the best dentist in Brisbane? Read on to find out!
What Does Smoking Do to Your Teeth?
Tartar and Plaque
Tobacco products, like cigarettes, include chemicals that influence saliva flow, making it easier for germs to settle in. This results in the formation of bacteria-laden plaque on the teeth and along the gum line. If plaque is not removed, it can toughen into tartar (dental calculus), which can only be removed by a DentiCare dentist in Brisbane.
Periodontal Disease
Is it true that smoking causes gum disease? It certainly does! You’re up to six times more likely to develop periodontal disease if you smoke. Periodontal disease and smoking are inextricably related.
There’s also evidence that smokers lose their teeth more quickly than non-smokers. As a result, this is yet another negative effect of smoking. If you smoke, you may have a periodontal test today to see how your gums and teeth are doing.
Dental Implant Failure
Smoking also raises the chances of a failed dental implant. If you continue to smoke after receiving a dental implant, the odds of it failing are three times higher than in non-smokers.
Healing and Surgery Recovery
Tobacco smokers are more likely to experience difficulties following an extraction. Alveolar Osteitis, for example, is an inflammation of the alveolar bone. Due to the weakened immune system, another negative effect of smoking is delayed or poor post-surgery recovery.
Teeth Discoloration
Did you know that your teeth, like your skin, have pores? That’s why nicotine and tar in tobacco can be absorbed by the pores when you smoke, causing discolouration. It is fairly usual to have yellow teeth as a result of smoking. However, your teeth may turn brown or black in the worst-case situation, necessitating teeth whitening procedures.
What Are Smoking’s Long and Short-Term Consequences?
Oral Cancer
Tobacco includes a variety of substances that raise the risk of mouth cancer in people. It is one of the most devastating impacts of tobacco, with multiple studies showing that smokers are 4.4 times more likely to get oral cancer.
Breath Problems
Bad breath is one of the most noticeable side effects of smoking. While there are numerous causes of bad breath, smoking is one of the most common, as the nicotine residue from cigarettes stays in the mouth for hours. This causes not only foul breath but also other oral issues. The smell of a smoker’s breath can cause serious social and personal shame, leading to isolation.
Shorter Life Expectancy
Several studies suggest that smoking reduces life expectancy by at least 10 years compared to non-smokers. Smoking 1-4 cigarettes daily can dramatically raise the chance of dying early. Furthermore, it is projected that two-thirds of smokers will die due to smoking, which harms practically every human organ and physical system.
Conclusion
Everything is linked, whether smoking and cavities or smoking and gum disease, affecting your overall and oral health. If you’re serious about quitting smoking, make an appointment with an affordable dentist in Brisbane. A smoker will make at least five or six tries to stop before succeeding, and each effort should be regarded as a learning experience for everyone engaged in the process.
Enamel Dental Studio offers specialist dental services, including teeth whitening, dental veneers, orthodontics, dental implants for cosmetic dentistry, and more general dentistry services. Are you searching for an affordable dentist in Brisbane? Feel free to contact us on (07) 3841 6641 or email [email protected].