Smoking and Your Teeth

Smoking tobacco is associated with many health problems. People who smoke cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products are also more at risk for dental problems, including hard-to-remove stains, gum disease, and tooth loss. Regular brushing is not enough to remove smoking-related staining. Smokers often have discolored teeth; they’re also more at risk of tartar buildup, which can be removed only during a dental cleaning.

How Smoking Damages Teeth

When a person smokes, tobacco decreases the body’s ability to fight mouth infections. Bacteria can therefore grow unchecked, causing further staining, and possibly leading to the need for treatments such as root canals and tooth extractions. Smoking causes less blood to circulate in the mouth, which also makes fighting infections harder. Plus, tobacco has grit that can wear away tooth enamel. Compared to non-smokers, four times more people who smoke have poor dental health.

Symptoms of Dental Problems Related to Smoking

If you smoke, you might notice a buildup of hard plaque, or have frequent dry mouth. Aside from yellowing or browning teeth, you may have bleeding gums and tooth decay. Damage to tooth enamel and an increased frequency of root canals are signs smoking may cause further trouble if you continue. Smoking tobacco can also lead to gum problems, from tenderness and redness to oozing pus, pain, and loose teeth. It also contributes to foul breath and receding gum lines.

How to Reverse the Effects of Smoking

Quitting the habit is one of the best things a person can do for their dental health. People often seek teeth whitening services if smoking has discolored their teeth. Many even get porcelain veneers, which work fine for improving one’s smile if they haven’t lost any teeth yet. More extensive work such as bite correction or dental implants is needed if smoking has caused more serious damage to your mouth.

Over the long term, smoking can do more than damage your teeth and gums. It is a major risk factor for oral cancer, which can progress very rapidly, but is treatable if caught early. You can lower this risk by quitting smoking. In addition to cigarettes and cigars, smokeless tobacco and hookah water pipes have enough tobacco to damage teeth and raise the risk of other health problems. To improve your oral health, the best thing to do is avoid smoking, so there are fewer issues down the road.