Smoking is the number one cause of cancer in the United States. Every study done by organizations such as the WHO finds that smoking is somehow related to a specific disease, and the diseases of the mouth are no different. In fact, every aspect of the smoking act can have risk associated with it when it comes to the oral cavity. This ranges from the simple “pulling” action to the heat – and of course the chemicals that the mouth is subjected to. So, exactly how does smoking affect your teeth? Let’s dive in deeper and explore more.
Your Mouth is the Portal to the Rest of Your Body
The mouth is the first thing that almost anything that enters the body encounters first. It is literally your body’s window. As such, plenty of research shows how diseases of the mouth can affect the body and vice versa.
Similarly, the mouth is the first thing that encounters the smoke of the cigarette. Therefore, understandably, it is one of the most affected parts of the body.
How Does Smoking Affect Your Teeth?
Smoking doesn’t just affect the teeth, but every structure inside the mouth. Here are some of the dangers of smoking:
1. Increased Risk of Decay
Not only do the chemicals actively rot the teeth, but the heat and the dehydration smoking creates reduces the washing and buffering action of saliva. This, in turn, increases the likelihood of decay.
2. Increased Chance of Gum Disease
Similarly, smoking also can cause inflammation of the gums because of the dryness it creates. It also encourages some of the bacteria responsible for gum inflammation and subsequently periodontal disease as well.
3. Increased Chance of Infection
The oral cavity is a clean-contaminated environment. That means that bacteria are always present inside the mouth, waiting for an opportunity to pounce and cause infections when your immunity drops or the balance shifts. That is exactly what smoking does, lower immunity. As a result, it shifts the very delicate balance inside your mouth.
4. Increased Chance of Cancer
Smoking is well known to cause one specific form of oral cancer, rightfully called “smoker’s keratosis.” Not only that but, as it lowers immunity, it leaves you vulnerable to any form of oral cancer and other pathologies. So, when we say “smoking kills” it could mean from mouth cancer, which can be very aggressive and spread quickly.
5. Bad Breath
One of the things the relatives of smokers complain about is their bad breath. This is not just because of the smell of the smoke itself, but because of the changes smoking causes inside your oral cavity. Smoking changes the bacterial balance inside the mouth, which puts you at a higher risk of halitosis.
The Question Reaches Further than How Smoking Affects Your Teeth
You may notice that we didn’t even mention stained teeth – because that may be the least of your worries. It is not just a question of “how does smoking affect your teeth” but just how much you’re willing to let it wreak havoc on your entire health.
Fortunately, we can help mitigate some of the effects of smoking on your mouth. However, long-term reduction of those harmful effects will have to come through actually quitting the habit.
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