General Dentistry: How Smoking Can Harm Your Teeth

There are many reasons to go to a general dentistry office. Caring for your teeth and gums is critical to your oral health and overall well-being. Along with seeing the dentist regularly, you need to brush and floss each day and maintain a well-balanced diet. As it is with other aspects of your health, smoking can be detrimental to your teeth. If you do smoke, quit today so that you can have healthy, strong teeth.

How oral health affects overall health

There is a clear connection between a person’s dental health and other aspects of their wellness. One of the most evident is the relationship between gum disease and cardiovascular performance. When gum disease goes untreated, the bacteria can spread throughout the mouth and face. Eventually, it can get into the bloodstream, reaching the heart. This can cause heart attacks and strokes.

People with poor oral health can also feel embarrassed about their appearance. This can affect the individual’s mental health. It can also have an impact on self-esteem. There is also a link between dental health and other conditions such as diabetes.

Smoking can cause plaque buildup

It is well-known that smoking has detrimental effects on a person’s heart and lungs. Any general dentistry professional will also attest to how smoking impacts the quality of a person’s teeth. When a person smokes, the saliva flow in the mouth changes. This invites more bacteria into the mouth. As it sits on the teeth and gums, a sticky film known as plaque can build up. This hardens into difficult-to-remove tartar, which can cause cavities and gum disease.

Smoking can discolor teeth

Another consequence of smoking is aesthetic. Smoking can stain teeth. Excessive smoking can turn teeth yellow, gray, brown, or even black. Severe staining is difficult to remove. Stained teeth can be embarrassing and may cause the person to withdraw from social settings. Such a person may want to hide their smile in public.

Smoking can contribute to decay

In general dentistry, treating cavities is common for patients of all ages. Decay can be the result of poor brushing and flossing as well as eating and drinking foods and beverages with a lot of sugar. Smoking can play a role in tooth decay as well. A person who smokes is more likely to develop large cavities. For these, the dentist may have to perform additional treatment and place a crown over the affected tooth. Otherwise, tooth loss can occur.