Smoking Bad for Health

We have all been told at one point or another that smoking is bad for you – and there is a lot of evidence to back that up! But did you know that smoking causes a multitude of dental problems?

                                      
The most obvious dental problems that arise from smoking are bad breath and yellow teeth. This is caused primarily by the tar present in cigarettes and other forms of tobacco. Complications are often caused by the increased build up of tarter and plaque on smoker’s teeth, although some of them are directly related to the nicotine and chemicals present in tobacco products. Smoking interferes with the repair and general function of gum tissue, and impairs blood flow in the gums. That is enough to keep many people from smoking – bad breath is a horrible social deterrent, and is one of the biggest complaints of the work environment, according to a recent survey. Yellow teeth are, well, unsightly – in the ancient Japanese culture wives would let their teeth turn yellow and even black to show their loyalty to their husband – but we have come a long way since then, and just about anywhere you go now, yellow teeth are more of a sign of poor hygiene than anything.
That being said, there are many other problems – not just more problems, but worse ones - that are caused by smoking.

The problems that smokers often experience are:
•    Leukoplakia – This disease causes precancerous white patches of keratin to grow inside the mouth.

•    Gum Disease – Also known as Periodontal Disease – it can become very serious if left untreated, causing the individual’s teeth to become loose or separated, swollen and tender gums, and eventually, complete loss of teeth.

•    Oral Cancer – This is simply cancerous growth in the mouth and throat.

•    Impaired oral healing – Smoking causes your oral healing process to slow, which can be frustrating for individuals prone to cold sores, people with sensitive gums, or individuals who have recently had some kind of oral surgery.

•  Perhaps the most unfortunate thing about smoker’s oral complications is that many of these problems can be passed on to the individuals around them through second hand smoke. This is extremely important for parents to keep in mind – your children are subject to the dental problems in the list above if they are exposed to second hand smoke.

So be careful! If you smoke, consider your environment, and protect those around you by smoking a distance away from everyone else. If you don’t, keep your children (and yourself) from secondhand smoke – your teeth and overall oral health are affected by it, and ultimately you are responsible.