What Are the Effects of Smoking to Your Teeth And Gums

Your teeth grip the cigarettes you smoke and come in direct contact with the dangerous toxins you inhale when you take a drag.

What Are the Effects of Smoking to Your Teeth?

Your teeth grip the cigarettes you smoke and come in direct contact with the dangerous toxins you inhale when you take a drag. It’s little surprise they’re harmed so severely by tobacco. Symptoms of serious tooth problems may include:

  • Yellowing or browning of the teeth
  • Bleeding gums
  • Buildup of calculus (hardened plaque)
  • Tooth decay   
  • Dry mouth

These symptoms often lead to even greater side effects from smoking, such as:

  • A greater need for root canals
  • Loss of teeth
  • Damaged tooth enamel

The issue can be more than just cosmetic. Smoking can impact the way you chew and how your bite aligns. One study found female smokers lose 1.5 teeth every 10 years, and male smokers lose 2.9.

What Are the Effects of Smoking to Your Gums?

Tobacco causes problems with the gums that range from cosmetic to downright painful. Using tobacco in any form, including cigarettes and chewing tobacco, can increase the tartar buildup in your mouth and decrease the flow of saliva, which washes away harmful bacteria. When you smoke, you may notice problems developing with your gums, such as:

  • Tenderness and redness
  • Blood when brushing your teeth or flossing
  • Loosening of teeth
  • Pus oozing between teeth
  • Pain when chewing
  • Foul breath
  • Looser fit for dentures
  • Receding gum line

These are signs of periodontal disease and should be addressed with your family dentist immediately. They can treat the condition through many solutions that range from simple to complex, such as:

  •     Anti-microbial mouthwash
  •     Oral antibiotics
  •     Doxycycline gel
  •     Bone surgery
  •     Grafting soft tissue
  •     Flap surgery to remove tartar from pockets beneath the gums
  •     Deep cleaning

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