Smoking care and consequences

Smoking is the most universally bad dental health habit. Each day more than 3,000 children, and each year over a million children are getting into the habit of chain smoking. Nearly one third will have a premature death, owing to the contraction of some diseases related to tobacco. Nearly 30 per cent of the total population either chews tobacco or is in a habit of smoking. The stats confirm that over 90 per cent of the regular smokers had started using tobacco prior to reaching 18 years of age. {{more}}I begin to see more and more of my patients who are smokers and are concerned about their dental health. This is the source of inspiration for this week’s article.

We are repeatedly informing the people of the hazards of smoking for our overall and oral health. Smoking poses serious problems for our oral health. Neglecting adequate oral care will certainly lead to a myriad of dental diseases.

What are the Consequences of Smoking?

1. It is believed that the smoking habit results in the loss of an average of 14 years from the life of the smoker.

2. 4,700 different harmful chemicals enter your body with each single puff.

3. Sticky deposits of tar are responsible for the yellowing of the teeth. It can also result in brown stains.

4. It also results in the yellowing of the finger nails.

5. Bad breath.

6. Passive smoking proves harmful for the people around us.

7. Smoker’s palate. (Inflammation of the roof of your mouth)

8. Likeliness to have deposits of calculus and plaque that can only be removed by professional cleaning.

9. Tobacco chewing limits the blood supply to the gum tissues. This way, necessary nutrients are unable to reach the bone or teeth’s periodontal support.

10. Increased risk of gum recession. Heightened chances of gum disease, leading to loss of teeth.

11. The rate of tooth loss for male smokers: 2.9 teeth every 10 years.

12. The rate of tooth loss for female smokers: 1.5 teeth every 10 years. (Twice the rate of tooth loss in non-smokers).

13. Smoking causes a delay in the healing process after dental treatment. It leads to a condition – dry socket – after undergoing oral surgery.

14. Black hairy tongue.

15. Oral lesions.

16. Oral cancer of the pharynx, mouth, esophagus, and larynx. (Smoking alone is responsible for causing 75 per cent of the oral cancers. (The location of the oral cancer is determined by the tobacco product consumed).

17. It is highly recommended to quit smoking before and after undergoing periodontal therapy, cosmetic dentistry, bleaching, or even oral surgery.

18. Using smokeless tobacco results in early onset of periodontitis – a gum disease – along with accentuated chances of contracting oral cancer.

19. Loss of taste.

20. There is a reported lowered success rate for periodontal treatment or the dental implants owing to prolonged use of tobacco.

21. There is a reduced supply of nutrients and oxygen to the gingival tissues.

All the above problems contribute to the fact that smoking results in several problems related to oral health. Next week, I will get into how to care and avoid and reduce smoking health problems.

Dr Keith John

Email: drkeithjohn@gmail.com

Clinic: Heritage Dental

Tel: 784-456-2220

Cell: 784-526-0752