effect of tobacco on dental health

Effect of tobacco on dental health

Oral health is very integral for our general health. More healthy our teeth, gums and surrounding bone is, better is our diet. Tobacco is very dangerous not only to our general health but also to our oral health.

Some of the bad effect of tobacco on oral health

  • Bad breath.
  • Gum problems like bleeding gums, swollen gums, recession.
  • Staining – yellowish or brown stain, which over long term is difficult to be removed by teeth whitening methods.
  • Mobility in teeth leading to eventual tooth loss.
  • Reduction in saliva leading to dry mouth.
  • Increases chances of cavities.
  • Loss of taste sensation.
  • Delay in healing process.
  • Affects ability of body to fight infections.
  • Adversely affects dental implants and other surgeries.
  • Leathery white or red patches in mouth.
  • Gradual reduction in mouth opening.
  • ORAL CANCER

Women who smoke during pregnancy are likely to give birth to children with congenital defects like cleft lip and cleft palate. Children exposed to smoke have delay and deranged permanent teeth formation. Individuals exposed to tobacco loose their teeth earlier. Gums and surrounding bone loss is at greater pace due to decrease in blood supply and loss of elasticity of tissues due to continuous irritation by chemicals in tobacco products. Also stained teeth degrade your looks to greater extent.

Before tobacco enter your body they come in contact with your teeth, gums, tongue and cheek tissues. Smoke of cigarette or bidi stays in your mouth before you inhale it. In that duration it increases the temperature of your mouth and chemicals in the smoke irritates your gums and oral tissues. Chewable tobacco similarly stays in between your gums and cheeks for long time. It irritates your gums and cheek tissues. Sweeteners are added in chewable tobaccos to enhance their taste. Thus your teeth come in contact with sugar for longer periods making them more prone to decay. They also contain sandy and gritty substance over which you chew periodically. This leads to wearing of your teeth.

So, tobacco in all forms like bidi, cigarette, cigars, supari, pan masala, snuff etc etc…. all are the potential hazards to oral health.

ORAL cancer

We always consider that no problem can be life threatening when it comes to our oral status. But TOBACCO is one thing which will lead you in such situation. ORAL CANCER is the 3rd most common cancer in the world as per statistics and tobacco is the biggest culprit here. Smokeless tobacco is more hazardous, malignant and life threatening. It can cause cancer of mouth, throat, oesophagus, tongue, larynx, pharynx, salivary glands which may spread to head and neck region.

Symptoms of oral cancer are

  • Burning sensation to spices
  • Red or white patches on tongue lips or cheeks.
  • Lumps in neck, below chin or throat area or rough spots on lips, cheeks.
  • Difficulty in swallowing, speaking, chewing.
  • Unexplained bleeding or numbness in and around mouth.
  • Change in voice (becomes hoarse).

The only solution to the problems associated with tobacco is to QUIT tobacco. As soon as you leave intake of tobacco in any form, you will experience drastic change in your gum health. It is not easy to stop but with proper guidance and determination it is not that difficult. Most important is that you should be willing to quit tobacco.

Talk to your dentist or doctors who will give you proper guidance and even medicines to help you. There are many NGOs who conduct various effective programs to help you to quit tobacco. Only requisite from your side is the positive outlook and willpower. Awareness of ill effects of tobacco and how to stop it is also very important. Even if you don’t use tobacco you should make your child aware of its side effects before they get into this because usually teenagers are most susceptible to get into this addiction. Many companies lure children with tasty cloured candies containing tobacco which leads to gradual addiction. Addiction to tobacco is like inviting multiple problems not only related to oral but general too. So get rid of tobacco and enjoy healthy life and well being.

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