Tariq Drabu Zooms in on Dental Health After a Cigarette

At Tariq Drabu Dentists we act to make sure that you maintain a healthy smile for the duration of your adult life; this means we act to make sure you know what is good and what is bad for your dental health. Recently the EU has acted to pass legislation that would further restrict smoking; among other things banning 10 pack cigarettes, and as a dentist, I feel that this is very good news.

This is because, even though things like carbonated drinks and coffee are bad for your teeth, smoking is infinitely worse. The detrimental effects of smoking on your oral health are numerous and persistent, and you have to be aware of them. Check out all the reasons how cigarettes can damage your mouth below.

Discolouration… Tobacco and the chemicals in cigarettes as well as the tar and nicotine can have a huge impact on the colour of your teeth; it can literally turn them yellow. Anybody who has seen the teeth of a long term smoker will know just how strong this discolouration is, as heavy smokers will often see them turn brown.

Oral Cancer… The idea that smoking can cause cancer is a persistent one, that’s because it can. However, it’s not just lung cancer as smoking can carry a serious risk of developing oral cancer as well.

Gum Disease… The chemicals in cigarettes, as well as the tar can carry a serious risk of gum disease as they attack the gums on a constant basis; in the worst cases this can lead to bleeding gums and even tooth loss. Smoking can also affect blood flow to the gums, which complicates the healing process.

Leukoplakia… This is a condition where white patches develop on the tongue and in the mouth and is caused by irritation of the mucous membranes in the mouth. It can lead to further oral problems and can easily be caused by smoking, as smoking increases the risk of developing the condition. Some leukoplakias are in fact pre cancerous.

Bad Breath… Do we really have to explain this one? Smoking plays havoc on your breath, it literally smells like an ashtray; and can seriously affect your social life, as well as your standing at work; who wants to be around someone with ash breath?

Plaque… Hardly desirable, plaque tend to build up on the teeth due to unhealthy habits, and not only is it unattractive, it can lead to the development of many oral problems, such as tooth decay. Smoking increases the accumulation of plaque and brushing your teeth can only keep this form of plaque at bay for so long.

So there you have it, there are six of the top reasons why smoking causes significant harm to your oral and dental health. It is important to note two things here. Firstly, these aren’t the only problems, there are many more. Secondly, nicotine is the cause of some of these problems, so don’t think switching to an E-Cigarette is going to reduce the risk of all of them; however since most of these problems are primarily caused by the chemicals and tar in cigarettes, E-Cigarettes are a step in the right direction.