Does smoking affect oral health?

By now, most people know that smoking is bad for you. However, many still don’t understand the many negative repercussions smoking can have on oral health. To give you a better idea of how smoking can affect your oral health, Christopher Cosse and our team have listed some issues that can arise.

Oral Cancer

Oral cancer can have steep ramifications for anyone that gets it. Surgery can be required to eliminate the cancer before it spreads to more vital parts of your body. Cancer may be the worst health effect you can get from smoking, especially considering the symptoms and treatment methods for moth cancer. The type of mouth surgery required to get rid of oral cancer can leave your face deconstructed in certain areas, and it is all due to smoking or using tobacco products.

Tooth Discoloration and Bad Breath

At the very least, it is fair to say that as a smoker you will often have bad breath, and while you may try to cover it up with gum or mints, tooth discoloration is a whole other story. The chemicals and substances in cigarettes stick to your teeth staining them brown and yellow colors that are increasingly difficult to disguise.

Gum Disease and Loss of Bone

Another effect of smoking is the increased risk of gum disease. Your gums may start to recede, which can eventually lead to the loss of teeth. Smoking can also accelerate bone and density loss in your jaw which is vital to the health of your mouth. Gum disease and bone loss are two signs that smoking is definitely bad for your mouth.

When it comes to the health of your mouth, the question is not whether smoking affects your health, it’s how does it affect your health and to what degree. If for no other reason than because smoking involves your mouth as its entry point, it is safe to say that it can have long-lasting and detrimental consequences on your oral health.

To learn more about smoking and your oral health, contact our Shreveport, Louisiana office to schedule an appointment with Christopher Cosse.