Most people believe that smoking only takes a toll on your lungs and general health. However, that is not true. Smoking has huge effects on your oral health as well. If you are looking to kick your smoking habit, there are many dental reasons to quit. Your Marietta, Woodstock and Kennesaw, GA dentist can help you understand these reasons and get you on your road to a smoke-free life.
Tooth Staining
Using tobacco causes staining to occur on the teeth’s enamel. While teeth whitening procedures help tremendously to keep your teeth white, continued smoking means reoccurring staining. This results in the need for ongoing whitening treatments within a smaller period of time to keep the appearance you want. Quitting smoking makes whitening treatments last longer and might even eliminate the need for them altogether.
Reduced Infection Fighting
Smoking has the ability to suppress the immune system, making fighting off infections harder for your body. This makes smokers more susceptible to gum infections than non-smokers. Smokers are twice as likely to experience these infections. Irritated gums lead to gum diseases like gingivitis or periodontitis, which result in tooth loss if left untreated.
Increased Tooth Problems
Smokers experience twice the amount of tooth loss and infected tooth roots than non-smokers. Even if these problems are treated, smokers may also take a longer time to heal. Infected tooth roots require root canal therapy. Depending on the extent of the infection, the tooth may even require extraction.
Cancer Risks
It is commonly known that smoking causes lung cancer. However, it also causes mouth, esophagus and throat cancer, among others. According to studies by the CDC, 90% of people with lip, mouth, tongue and throat cancers are smokers. Additionally, smokers are six times more likely to develop these cancers than non-smokers.
Dropping your smoking habit is not easy, but with help from your Marietta, Woodstock and Kennesaw dentist at 1st Choice Dental Care, it is an achievable goal. For more information on the risks of smoking to your teeth and getting help to quit, please contact your dentist at 1st Choice Dental Care in Marietta, Woodstock and Kennesaw, GA. Call (678) 293-8773 to schedule your appointment today!