When people think of health issues related to smoking, lung cancer and other respiratory-related illnesses usually come to mind. However, smoking can have detrimental effects on your oral health, as well. Today, our Riverside dentists share some facts about the hazards of tobacco use.
Tobacco and Your Oral Health
- Research suggests that tobacco use may be one of the leading causes of periodontal disease.
- Studies show that smokers have more tartar buildup than nonsmokers. Tartar is a buildup of plaque (the sticky film that forms on your teeth naturally every day) that hardens. You cannot remove tartar by brushing or flossing, it must be removed by a dental professional.
- Studies also show that smokers are three to six times more likely to have gum degeneration than nonsmokers.
- Smoking makes the treatment of gum disease very difficult because smoking prevents healing in the mouth.
- Smokers are less likely to experience redness and bleeding of the gums, so spotting gum disease is very difficult.
- Of the people who have mouth cancer and some types of throat cancers, about 90% have used tobacco.
- All tobacco products can pose a threat to gum health, including cigars, pipe tobacco, and smokeless tobacco.
- A study conducted at Temple University showed that 18% of people who had formerly smoked tobacco from a pipe or a cigar had moderate to severe gum disease, which is three times the amount found in nonsmokers.
- Gums can recede due to smokeless tobacco.
- Smokers are six times more likely to develop mouth cancer or some type of throat cancer than nonsmokers.
Contact Us for an Appointment
We strongly suggest that you completely avoid tobacco use for optimal oral and overall health, as well as commit to good oral hygiene and regular six-month visits to your Riverside dentist office. To schedule your next appointment, contact Dental Associates of Riverside at (951) 369-1001.
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