The health dangers associated with smoking are well known today. Cigarette smoking contributes to a whole host of diseases and ailments, including lung cancer, heart disease, and emphysema. Smokers consistently die younger than their non-smoking counterparts, and quitting can provide a huge boost to your overall health.
But less is published about the impact that smoking has upon our mouths and teeth. Your oral health is often indicative of your overall health, and your mouth acts as a microcosm of your body, but when most people consider smoker’s teeth, they think only of yellow stains on the enamel of a smoker. As your Castle Hill Dentist, we can tell you, that is only the tip of the iceberg.
In fact, a smokers dental health suffers just as badly as the rest of their body. Smoking can discolour your teeth, while the chemical preservatives in the cigarette can thin the vital enamel on your teeth, making them more prone to cavities and heat sensitivity.
But it is the periodontal, or gum health, of a smoker which suffers the most. Smokers are far more likely to experience some manner of gum disease, including gingivitis, periodontitis, or receding gums. The constant inhalation of smoke, along with the chemicals involved, reduces the amount of saliva in the mouth, which acts as a form of cleansing agent. This means that greater amounts of calculus and tartar can build up underneath the gumline, inflaming the gums, and causing bleeding and diseases.
Meanwhile, smokers gums experience less blood flow. This has the impact of making a set of gums less receptive to treatment or surgery, so when the time comes to undergo a corrective procedure at Hills Dental Care, there is less assurance that it will work as designed. There is a lot you can do for your oral health by quitting smoking, just as there is much you can do for your overall health.
Contact your Castle Hill dentist at Hill Dental Care for premium dental care, and take care of your teeth!
