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Posted by DR. WEN LU on Apr 22 2021, 08:52 AM
We’ve known that smoking is bad for you for a long time now. People search for alternative ways to get their daily dose of nicotine. Welcome: vapes. However, since traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes contain nicotine, the impact of e-cigarettes is just as bad, if not worse, for chronic smokers. Let’s take a look at the problems nicotine can cause for your oral health.
Nicotine is known to restrict blood flow to the gums. It also affects the mouth’s ability to fight infection or heal connective tissue. This can lead to a bigger risk of contracting gum diseases like gingivitis, periodontal disease, and tooth loss. According to a 2017 study from Javed and colleagues (2017), people who consume nicotine through smoking or vaping had higher plaque levels and reported gum pains.
Regular use of nicotine dehydrates your mouth and causes a number of issues such as dry mouth, bad breath, and toothache. The same 2017 study says that people who abstained from smoking reported no adverse effects on their oral health.
Your mouth is only equipped to deal with a specific number of bacteria in your mouth through your daily oral care routine. Adding smoking to the mix increases the number of bacteria in your mouth, which can lead to a variety of periodontal concerns to the further detriment of your oral health. Nicotine in any form leads to dental problems, including:
Various studies by the American Cancer Society present other serious reasons to quit nicotine.
About 90% of people who have cancer in the mouth, lips, tongue, and throat are identified to be users of tobacco. The risk of developing oral cancer increases with the amount used and duration of the habit. Smokers are six times more likely to develop oral cancers than nonsmokers.
About 37% of cancer patients who continue smoking even after being cured develop second cancers of the mouth, lips, tongue, and throat. Compare this to only 6% of those who stopped smoking.
Yes, cutting down on nicotine is known to improve your oral health by automatically reducing the chances of developing gum and periodontal diseases. It also reduces the cancer risk that comes with smoking and tobacco.
Regular smokers and tobacco users will eventually reach a point where they encounter oral complications. When these occur, it is recommended to visit a dentist. So, schedule an appointment with Arden Dental Center (www.ardendentalcenter.com) when you notice:
The bottom line is: the drawbacks of smoking, tobacco, and nicotine and the gradual deterioration of oral health have been well documented for decades now.
The sooner you address your symptoms and discomfort the better your chances of healing and the lower your risks of oral cancer. We at Arden Dental Center (www.ardendentalcenter.com) are here to help.
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