How Smoking Cigarettes Can Affect Your Oral Health

While lung cancer might be the most known serious side effect of smoking, cigarettes also cause havoc to your teeth and mouth in general. In this blog, we will discuss how smoking affects your oral health and provide you with expert tips to help you stop smoking.

Discoloration

There are many causes of tooth discoloration, and smoking is one of the leading causes. Cigarette smoke stains your teeth, making them seem darker. You can fix the problem through teeth whitening or veneers. But if you continue smoking, the effects will not last long. Therefore, if you want to maintain a sparkly smile, you will need to stop smoking.

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is the most common dental problem, but it can be prevented if you maintain proper oral hygiene. Maintaining proper oral hygiene means brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing daily, seeing the dentist every six months, and quitting smoking.

Gum Disease

Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss. The infections affect the gums, making your tooth loose and fall out with time. Unfortunately, periodontitis is a silent killer, and most people don’t realize they are suffering from it until it is too late. Smoking tobacco increases the risk of periodontitis and makes your natural teeth vulnerable.

Bone Damage

If gum disease is left for too long without treatment, it begins affecting the bone. It eats away the bone, making it difficult to use other dental procedures like dental implants. Our dentist in Thornton, CO, can help you with dental implants.

Bad Breath

Bad breath may not seem like a big problem on paper, but anyone suffering from it can attest to how stressful it can be. You get embarrassed to speak, and it can be quite difficult to make friends in such a situation. There are many causes of halitosis (bad breath), but smoking is one of the leading causes. You can count on us to help you with bad breath. Our Thornton dentist is always ready to help.

Oral Cancer

Oral cancer has become prevalent in recent years. Yes, there are many causes of cancer, but smokers are at a higher risk. Tobacco contains over 28 chemicals that increase the risk of oral cancer and cancer of the esophagus and throat.

Increased Sensitivity

If you don’t smoke but chew tobacco products, you increase the risk of receding gums. Tobacco irritates gum tissue, making it pull away from the teeth. Receding gums increases teeth sensitivity, making it uncomfortable to take hot or cold foods.

How to Stop Smoking

Regardless of how long you have been using tobacco and its products, it is not always easy to quit. But with focus and determination, you can quit without much struggle. Here are some tips that can help you on your journey.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Your doctor can help you stop smoking through nicotine replacement therapy. This therapy involves the use of inhalers, nicotine patches, and stop-smoking medications such as bupropion. Electronic cigarettes have also helped many people deal with cigarette cravings, and it can help you too.

Avoid Triggers

If you are serious about quitting smoking, you will need to stop doing things that can make you want to smoke. For example, avoid parties and bars. Identify what makes you want to smoke the most and avoid it.

Delay

If you feel like smoking, try to delay and tell your brain you will smoke thirty minutes later. In the meantime, take sugarless gum or candy to keep your mouth busy.

Get Physical

Working out can help you distract yourself from tobacco cravings. Even non-intensive activities such as running up and down the stairs can distract you from craving cigarettes. If you are stuck in a room, try squats and pushups. You will help avoid tobacco cravings and improve your general health through exercise.

Ask for Help

If you feel like you can’t stop smoking on your own, join support groups, either online or offline. You will find people with a problem like yours, and you can help each other quit.

For any dental problem, we are here for you. Our dentist in Thornton will help you quit smoking and maintain proper oral hygiene. Our services are patient-centered, and when you are happy with our services, we are happy. Book an appointment now.