The effects of smoking

Smoking can potentially cause many problems. They range from bad breath to oral cancer. I will list the most common problems:

• Bad breath
• Staining of the teeth
• More rapid development of tartar
• Adversely affects the attachment of bone & soft tissue to the teeth. i.e.: receding gums which can cause a sensitive reaction to hot & cold
• Delayed healing
• Six times more likely to develop oral cancer
• Periodontal disease

The effects of smoking are that people who smoke will have a high probability of losing their teeth. Furthermore, smoking initiates gums disease. Gum disease manifests itself as swelling on the gum areas that finally lessens the strong teeth formation. It is at this stage that tooth loss occurs. Some will argue that there is no association between smoking and loss of teeth or gum problems. They further insist that their genetic structure is responsible for these kinds of dental problems.

But their argument is totally wrong.

Studies have proved that smoking can cause dental problems. Many dental problems, especially gum problems are caused due to smoking. This is because smoking triggers the accumulation of bacteria in plaque. Actually the gluey white material that builds up on our teeth whenever we do not brush them is plaque, already a major factor in dental problems. Moreover like a double jeopardy, smoking helps in bacteria formation in plaque. So, when bacteria already thrive within the gum area, it will lead to inflamed gums. Furthermore, this will have an effect on the jaw, speeding up the loss of teeth. If not, teeth will soon need to be extracted because it is by this stage that they will progressively get worse.

Gum disease is a silent killer of your teeth.