If you smoke cigarettes, caring for your teeth will prove more complex and more costly than the dental care required by a non-smoker. One of the leading causes of tooth loss has proven to be cigarette smoking. Other side effects of smoking on a regular basis include an increased risk for periodontal disease, loss of bone structure, salivary gland inflammation, a precancerous condition called leukoplakia, and heightened risk for developing oral, throat and lung cancers.
Before you light up another cigarette, consider how this activity affects your teeth and overall oral health. Smoking contributes to an ongoing build up of damaging tartar and plaque on the surface of your teeth. It is easier to recognize the smokers because they may have stained teeth or bad breath. Smokers also report a more dramatic loss of the senses of taste and smell than non-smokers.
Smoking also contributes to a slower healing process following any type of dental work. Smokers also experience less success when undergoing such restorative procedures as dental implants. Some smokers may not be viable candidates for implant work at all. The World Health Organization predicts that smoking, continuing at its current pace in the U.S., will be the cause of everyone in six American deaths by 2030.
If you make the decision to continue smoking, check out the free resources available from such websites as www.smokefree.gov and www.cancer.org for tips on quitting. Your physician can also recommend effective programs for quitting smoking, including counseling services and use of nicotine patches, gum, or nasal inhalers and sprays.
Schedule regular dental check-ups that include periodontal disease screenings. Brush on a regular basis and use tongue cleaners, mouthwash, and dental floss. Schedule regular professional dental cleanings.
Smoking presents such a detriment to your dental health, it is certainly worthwhile investigating how to overcome the physical and emotional dependency that the nicotine in cigarettes causes. Investigate whether your insurance will cover the costs of the many “quit smoking” programs now available. By moving into the non-smoker category, your teeth and dental health will dramatically benefit.
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