Smoking; dental issues it causes from our dentist

Do you smoke cigarettes? Are you worried about how they are affecting your teeth?

At Family Dental Care, our dentist in Doncaster East can help smokers quit the habit using smoking cessation techniques and by offering general advice about how to maintain good oral health.

In this article, our dentist in Doncaster East talks through five of the most common dental issues that can occur due to smoking.

Gum disease

One of the most common conditions associated with smoking according to our dentist in Doncaster East is gum disease.

Why? Because smoking reduces blood flow to the teeth and gums, while also decreasing saliva production. Saliva is important in maintaining good oral health, as it washes away bacteria that can cause gum disease.

So, if you are a smoker and your gums bleed when you brush, call us for a check-up.

Oral cancer

It should come as no surprise that smoking cigarettes or cigars increases the risk of oral cancer.

Indeed, 75% of those who have oral cancer are smokers and so, it is one of the most common and most serious oral conditions associated with this habit. If you have ulcers in your mouth that are not healing, are bleeding, or if you have lumps or bumps developing in your mouth, please contact us as soon as possible for a check-up and oral cancer screening.

Dry socket

If you smoke, you are at a higher risk of developing a very uncomfortable condition known as dry socket.

This occurs after an adult tooth is removed and, rather than a protective blood clot-forming to protect the exposed bone underneath the extraction, nothing forms and the bone remains exposed. This can be extremely uncomfortable and, while we can resolve it using stitches to hold the gum together as it heals, this stress can heighten the chance of infection.

Discolouration

A common issue that many people are aware of relating to smoking is how this habit discolours teeth.

The nicotine within the cigarettes causes the teeth to become yellowed and other chemicals in the smoke can cause other issues with colouration, such as browning. While this can be somewhat mitigated with daily bruising, professional cleans from our dental team and even whitening procedures, the only sure-fire way to stop your teeth from becoming stained due to smoking is to stop smoking.

If you would like to learn how our team can help you give up smoking, then call us today for more information.

Acid damage

It is not known by many who smoke, but each time you breathe in smoke, you are aggravating not only the tissues in your mouth, throat and lungs, but you are also aggravating the top of your stomach.

And, as is the way with an aggravated stomach, this can cause the muscles to loosen and become floppy, increasing the chances of abdominal issues such as heartburn and acid reflux.

Acid reflux, and it’s more chronic version gastrointestinal reflux disease or GERD, can expose your teeth to stomach acid daily, which thins down the enamel.

This in turn can cause sensitivity, increase the chance of tooth decay and can even make them more prone to breaking and cracking. We can protect against this with fluoride sealants and smoking cessation options if requested.

DISCLAIMER

All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.