At our dental clinic in Martinsburg, WV, one conversation that we wind up having with many of our patients is about the relationship between smoking and oral health. It’s well-known that smoking is bad for your health overall. But how bad is it really for your teeth, gums, and throat? Here’s how smoking impacts your health in the short and long term, and some guidance for how to start quitting.
How Does Smoking Affect Your Oral Health Over Time?
Nine Ways Smoking Damages Oropharyngeal Health
1. Tooth Staining
They don’t call them “smoker’s teeth” for nothing. Both smoking and smokeless tobacco usage like snuff can cause significant discoloration of the teeth due to staining of the enamel. The staining can be severe and can cause significant drops in confidence about one’s appearance, and make one reluctant to smile for fear of their teeth being judged by others.
Sadly, this can become a positive feedback loop. The stress of worrying about stained teeth can cause one to reach for a cigarette, which only adds to the staining over time.
2. Tooth Decay
The CDC has some pretty frightening statistics when it comes to tooth decay. Studies of adults aged 20 and up showed double the rate of untreated cavities among smokers compared to non-smokers, and, even more worryingly, about 43% of smokers aged 65 and up have actually lost all of their teeth.
Sometimes the nervous system stimulation associated with nicotine use can also cause damage to the teeth caused by teeth grinding, a condition known as bruxism. If you have a habit of grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw when you’re stressed, it can cause tremendous damage over time if left untreated.
3. Dry Mouth and Reduced Saliva Production
Your mouth isn’t supposed to be dry. Smokers tend to develop dry mouth, which is an underproduction of saliva. Reduced saliva production has several damaging downstream effects, with one of the most worrying being the disruption of your mouth’s bacterial balance. Saliva helps regulate the type and number of bacteria inside your mouth.
4. Gingivitis and Periodontitis
Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums, and it’s most typically caused by an overgrowth or certain kinds of bacteria. When dental plaque becomes overgrown, the gums become inflamed as part of the immune response. Periodontitis is an advanced stage of the disease in which your gums recede from the teeth and small pockets form between the gum and teeth.
When the gums start to recede from the teeth, you’re more likely to experience sensitivity to hot and cold because the teeth roots are exposed. More worryingly, gingivitis and periodontitis can cause teeth to fall out altogether.
5. Oral Leukoplakia
Oral leukoplakia is the development of thick, red or white patches or lesions inside the mouth that can be triggered by smoking and also by long-term, excessive alcohol consumption. Leukoplakia patches aren’t always cancerous, but cancer can develop in or around leukoplakia patches. Leukoplakia can develop on the gums, inside the cheeks, under the tongue, or on the roof of your mouth.
If you notice any thick, white patches inside your mouth, it’s important to have them evaluated as soon as possible.
6. Cancer of the Mouth, Esophagus, and More
While many people think of smoking or tobacco use as definitively linked to lung cancer, some are surprised when they learn that cancers of the mouth and esophagus can also be caused by tobacco use. Oropharyngeal cancer can be absolutely devastating, and surgery to remove a growing tumor may also require removal of part of the jaw.
About 90% of cases of cancer of the mouth, lips, tongue, and throat occur in tobacco users, who are six times more likely to develop these cancers than non-smokers.
7. Dry Mouth
Everyone has had the experience of their mouth being dry, or even parched, but a lot of people don’t see chronic dry mouth as a significant medical condition. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. Beyond the typical symptoms of thick and stringy saliva, a dryness or stickiness in your mouth, and a changed sense of taste, chronic dry mouth can cause several problems.
Dry mouth contributes to bacterial overgrowth and can lead to a yeast infection, known as thrush, which can be uncomfortable and possibly dangerous. Dry mouth can also directly contribute to gum loss and even tooth loss over time.
8. Smoker’s Breath
Halitosis is the medical term for foul breath, and smokers are at incredible risk for it. Above and beyond the actual scent of cigarettes, which many find offputting, changes in your mouth’s environment due to chronic tobacco use can make your mouth extra stinky. Low saliva production can allow the bacteria that causes bad breath to become overgrown.
9. Poor Recovery Following Dental Surgery
Tobacco use over time causes significant damage to blood vessels both great and small, and that can have a deeply negative impact on recovery after dental procedures like wisdom teeth removal. It’s especially damaging for things like implantations of teeth. Poor circulation from chronic tobacco use can cause implants and grafts to be rejected and generally creating a greater risk of poor outcomes.
Is Vaping Any Safer?
Your safest bet is to quit, not switch. The data on vaping as compared to smoking is mixed, in large part because what goes into “vape juice” varies by manufacturer and the data simply hasn’t caught up. However, vaping is still damaging to both your overall health and the health of your mouth. It’s important to remember that nicotine causes damage to cells and blood vessels regardless of its delivery system.
Additionally, many vape juices contain sugar, which can help to promote cavity formation. Even non-sweetened flavoring such as menthol has been shown to cause damage to oral cells.
There’s Definitely Hope
No matter how badly you’ve damaged your health to this point with tobacco or nicotine, there’s still good news. The second you stop smoking, your health starts improving. Quitting smoking can help reduce your risk of most if not all medical conditions associated with smoking, which is great news. Cancer risks of all types decline after quitting, as does the risk of developing heart disease and other life-altering illnesses.
How to Start Quitting
For most smokers, quitting isn’t a one-time decision. Nicotine cravings can sometimes be strong enough to make even the strongest-willed person pick up their lighter again. But there are plenty of ways to start the quitting process, and with dedication and support, to kick the habit for good. Have a conversation with your physician, dentist, or other health professionals about how to approach quitting.
Many smokers benefit from switching to nicotine patches or lozenges to help them get through the periods of strongest craving. While nicotine in these forms still damage oral tissues and teeth, using them to transition off of nicotine is a great step for your long-term health. Adjunctive therapies, like acupuncture and hypnosis, can help with managing stress and reducing cravings.
Getting Your Bright Whites Back in Martinsburg, WV
Unfortunately, simply brushing your teeth isn’t enough to completely recover your teeth’s pearly whiteness. While stopping smoking is the most important piece of the puzzle, choosing to have your teeth professionally whitened can help restore confidence, and not wanting to re-stain your teeth can be an excellent motivator toward continuing to abstain.
Your path to healthier teeth, gums, and mouth starts with quitting smoking and moving forward with the right support. Book your next dentistry appointment today at Cornerstone Dental in Martinsburg, WV.
