Smoking and oral health

Tooth staining and constant bad breath are the least of your worries when it comes to smoking and the severe detrimental effect it has on your oral health. In addition to causing lung cancer, heart disease and other health conditions, smoking is one of the main contributors to gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums causing them to bleed easily when brushing or flossing, and periodontal (gum) disease, a degenerative disease of the gum as well as the supportive bone and the leading cause of adult tooth loss.

The negative effects of smoking also mean that many smokers are unsuitable for various restorative Dental procedures such as dental implants, as smoking will impede the recovery of the gum tissue. Gum disease also causes a reduction in jawbone density making it unsuitable for the implants to be placed.

Smoking is the major cause of oral cancer, which accounts for 3% of all cancers diagnosed in Australia. In its early stage it often does not cause any discomfort and is therefore difficult to diagnose without a radiograph and thorough examination during a regular check-up.

The risk of developing these and other diseases is dependent on the amount you smoke. The more you smoke, the higher the risk.

Quitting is difficult, however the team at Dental Pro is dedicated to providing all advice and support they can to help you quit smoking and restore your oral health. Late is better than never, so you can still quit. After 15 years, the risk of death for an ex-smoker is almost equivalent to that of a person who has never smoked.