"Tobacco Use & Your Oral Health"

If you smoke or use tobacco you are probably aware that tobacco use in any form puts you at risk for lung disease, cancer, and heart disease. Yet, you may not be aware that tobacco use is also harmful to your oral health.

Recent studies show tobacco use may be one of the most significant risk factors in the development of gum and bone disease (periodontal disease). With tobacco use you are more likely to develop calculus and plaque that hardens on your teeth and can only be removed during a professional cleaning. If the calculus is not removed and it remains below your gum line it will destroy your gum tissue, causing your gums to pull away from your teeth. Deep pockets form between your teeth and gums and fills with disease-causing bacteria. If left untreated the bacteria begins to destroy tissue and bone. Tobacco use may also limit blood flow to gum tissue, restricting the necessary nutrients to the bone and supporting structures of the teeth. Your gums will begin to shrink away from your teeth making your teeth look longer. The condition can become painful and may ultimately lead to the loss of your teeth.

Research reveals tobacco users have tooth loss at a rate two times more than non-tobacco users. If a person starts using tobacco at age 18 and continues as a regular daily user, you could lose four or five teeth by the time you are 35 years of age.

Gum and bone disease along with tooth loss are not the only side effects of tobacco use. Chemicals in tobacco can slow the healing process of any gum and/or oral surgeries. Therefore, the treatments can be less effective in tobacco users than in non-users. In addition, research shows that exposing your children to tobacco smoke can delay the development of their permanent teeth. There are a multitude of other side effects in the use of tobacco such as; higher risk of oral cancer, continual bad breath, stained teeth, loss of taste, mouth sores, and a lower success with gum treatments and dental implants.

If you use tobacco, you need to brush and floss regularly and have your teeth professionally cleaned every "three" months. Better yet, quit using tobacco all together. Research shows clearly that much of the damage caused by smoking will reverse itself after you quit. Talk to your dentist about ways you can improve your dental health, as well as your overall health.