What are #3 Dental Reasons To Quit Smoking?

We all know that smoking has an effect on our teeth, gums, mouth and throat but what exactly does it do?

Well, there are the obvious effects of smoking, such as the staining and yellowing of the teeth, as well as bad breath. These problems are unpleasant but they don’t actually affect your health. However, there are more serious conditions that result in your mouth due to smoking and these are:

1. Gum Disease: This includes gingivitis (bleeding and inflammation of the gums) and Periodontitis (gum disease that can result in loss of teeth.) Smokers are six times more likely to develop gum disease than non-smokers as the body’s defence system becomes less able to control the harmful bacteria that cause this disease. Unfortunately, nicotine in the cigarette smoke decreases the blood flow to the gums and this can mask gingivitis which means they will not consult a dental professional until the disease has progressed to a more serious level.
2. Leukoplakia: This is a condition that presents as white patches in the mouth and can be pre-cancerous.
3. Cancer: Smoking contributes to the changes in the mouth and throat tissues that can lead to mouth, tongue and throat cancer. Smokers are four times more likely to get oral cancers than non smokers

Click on Quit now for more info.

SOURCE:

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1034/j.1600-051X.2002.290815.x/abstract?deniedAccessCustomisedMessage=&userIsAuthenticated=false