SMOKING IS AN incredibly unhealthy habit for the entire body, and that includes teeth and gums. 80% of oral cancer diagnoses are to those who smoke or chew tobacco. Early symptoms include odd white patches in the mouth, pain or mouth sores that persist, swelling, numbness, trouble chewing and swallowing, and a sensation of having something stuck in the throat. A key figure in catching oral cancer early is the dentist!
Smoking and Gum Disease
Smoking doubles the risk of developing gum disease and it also makes it harder to treat it. Leaving gum disease untreated paves the way for damage to the tissue, atrophy of the jaw bone, and even tooth loss.
Vaping: Not a Healthy Option
What about vaping and e-cigarettes? They aren’t the healthy smoking alternative they’ve been painted as. The vapor contains ultra-fine toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and nicotine (which reduces blood flow, compromising gum tissue health, making gum recession and tissue death more likely). Tobacco also reduces saliva production, leading to dry mouth and the variety of dental issues associated with it, and it can trigger bruxism.
Quitting Is Always Worth It
Heavy longtime smokers might believe they’ve already done so much damage to their health that there’s no point in quitting, but quitting will still improve health outlooks. It’s worth it, and it’s never too late to begin!
Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Related posts
Discover the art of enhancing your smile.

When It's Better Not To Brush
Though thin and partially translucent, tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body and has the important job of preserving teeth from constant use...

For Healthy Teeth’s Sake, Stop Chewing Ice!
THERE'S A GOOD REASON dental health professionals warn their patients not to chew ice. This...

Women’s Dental Health
WOMEN FACE A different set of challenges than men do in caring for their teeth and gums, and they...