Smoking and Your Teeth

No one nowadays would argue that smoking (or chewing) tobacco in any form is a harmless habit. We're well versed in the risks that it poses to one's lungs, heart, and even throat and mouth. Not so many people realize the extent to which smoking also contributes to dental problems, though. I was surprised myself, to hear my dentist claim that smoking was the single greatest contributer to various kinds of damage to the teeth and gums. The way it does this is two-fold: one the one hand, it creates the kind of environment in the mouth that bacteria love to propogate in, and at the same time it depresses the immune system's ability to fight off these threats.

Tar, of course, has its obvious negative side effects: deposits of it turn our teeth yellow, and can even leave brown stains. Nicotine is a more serious culprit, though, because it makes blood vessels contract, thus depriving the roots of our teeth (and gingival tissue) of the daily nutrition that they require. Consider, also, that there are over 4,000 chemicals contained within the smoke of most commercial cigarettes. Some are simply poisonous: formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, ammonia, and arsenic. All of these influences interfere with normal body defense mechanisms that work to control the growth of harmful bacteria.

Gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) begins with a buildup of bacteria in plaque - that slick white substance that builds up on our teeth if we don't clean them properly. Once the gums become inflamed, they start to recede away from the teeth; at the same time, the bone that hold teeth in place begins to decay. Over the years, teeth will fall out or need to be extracted because of this condition. Some warning signs of gum disease include bleeding gums (after brushing, or just spontaneously), tender, exposed root surface, swollen gums, persistent bad breath, and teeth that feel loose or start separating from one another.

Regular smokers are considered to be 6 times more likely to develop gum disease than non-smokers. The estimated rate of tooth loss for smokers is estimated at 2.9 every 10 years. Smoking causes 75% of all oral cancers: of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus. Smoking can also contribute to calculus, which is a kind of plaque that hardens onto teeth to such an extent that it can only be removed by a professional cleaning.

Tooth loss can have a devastating affect on one's self-image, affecting not only appearance but one's confidence (and willingness to smile). Obviously, the best way to reduce the risks of this happening is to quit smoking. If you don't feel ready to do this, then there are certain stopgap techniques that will at least be moderately helpful. Brush for 2-5 minutes (most people brush for about 20 seconds) twice a day - particularly, once before bedtime. Be sure to thoroughly clean the gumline. Floss daily, or use a dental pick, and augment this oral routine with some antibacterial mouthwash. Thorough cleaning like this will help to clear up the plaque and bacteria that the body isn't naturally able to fight off so effectively anymore because of the effects of smoking.