Nicotine from cigarettes slows down your body’s ability to heal, meaning that in addition to slower healing from injuries, your teeth will wear down faster. Using other tobacco products such as snuff and cigars subjects you to this as well as being abrasive to tooth enamel. When tobacco products are chewed and mix together with your saliva, they create an abrasive paste that erodes your tooth enamel and once enamel is gone, it’s gone for good.
Smoking and tobacco use also impede healing from and the effectiveness of many dental treatments. The effects of smoking on your mouth include reduced blood flow, as well as increased bacterial growth and inflammation, all of which can cause restorative dental procedures to fail.
Implants and bridges in particular might not be an option for a tobacco user because your surrounding teeth and jawbone may have weakened from infection or tooth decay and are no longer strong enough to support these procedures. Dental research shows that due to slower healing and weaker jawbone tissue, the implant failure rate for smokers is up to 16 percent, compared to just 1.4 percent for nonsmokers that have had the procedure.
In addition to being more likely to develop gum disease (periodontitis), people who smoke have a more difficult time fighting off infection. Using tobacco products can turn a simple infection into an abscess or even sepsis. The symptoms associated with gum disease are worsened with smoking which increases dry mouth and sensitivity to pain. Since smoking causes blood vessels to constrict, less blood reaches the gums, slowing down transport of compounds that restore gum tissue.
Smokeless tobacco (also known as snuff or chewing tobacco) is not exempt from these concerns as it causes cancers of the mouth, lip, tongue and pancreas. Like cigarettes, chewing tobacco contains at least 28 cancer-causing chemicals. Issues caused by smokeless tobacco include:
Quit as soon as you can! However, you should not be discouraged if it takes you several attempts to quit before you find success. If you’re a smoker, you must understand that tobacco and nicotine dependence is an addiction, and there are resources such as counseling and medication available to help you. Consult with your doctor to develop a plan that works for you.
Ultimately, the effects of smoking and using tobacco on teeth can lead to tooth decay, gum disease and cause complications for restorative dental treatments. For more information or help restoring your teeth from the destruction caused by tobacco use, schedule with Dr. Alla Brown and Dr. Amanda Newberry of Lanier Family & Cosmetic Dentistry by calling (678) 359-4707 or schedule online today.
Many health professionals emphasize the danger of smoking habits, even when using e-cigarettes. But smokers…
Good oral health comes from taking care of your teeth and gums with at-home oral…
We introduce foods and other substances into our mouths throughout the day. They react with…
Are aesthetic flaws disrupting your smile? Do you feel inclined to hide your smile because…
Staying hydrated is crucial to maintaining your overall wellness because the human body consists primarily…
Tooth pain can be excruciating and severely disrupt your everyday life. Even if you find…