• Great American Smokeout

    Great American Smokeout

    Every year the American Cancer Society sponsors the Great American Smokeout on the third Thursday of November.  It challenges smokers to give up smoking for 24 hours.  If you or a loved one smokes cigarettes, consider joining the movement, and take the first step toward quitting cigarettes forever!

     

    How can smoking affect my oral health?

    Most people are now aware that smoking is bad for their health.  It can cause many different medical problems and, in some cases, fatal diseases.  However, many people don’t realize the damage that smoking does to their mouth, gums and teeth.

    Smoking can lead to tooth staining, gum disease, tooth loss, and in even oral cancer.

    Why are my teeth stained?

    One of the effects of smoking is staining on the teeth due to the nicotine and tar in the tobacco.  It can make your teeth yellow in a very short time, and heavy smokers often complain that their teeth are almost brown after years of smoking.

    How will smoking affect my gums and teeth?

    People who smoke are more likely to produce bacterial plaque, which leads to gum disease.  Smoking also weakens your body’s infection fighters (your immune system).  This makes it harder to fight off a gum infection.  Once you have gum damage, smoking also makes it harder for your gums to heal.  Smokers have twice the risk for gum disease compared with a nonsmoker.  The more cigarettes you smoke, the greater the risk.

    How is smoking linked with cancer?

    It is fairly common knowledge that smoking can cause lung and throat cancer, but many people don’t know that it is one of the main causes of mouth cancer too.  Every year thousands of people die from mouth cancer brought on by smoking.

    How often should I visit my dentist?

    It is important that you visit your dentist regularly for a normal check-up and a full mouth examination so that any other conditions can be spotted early.  Your dentist will make sure that your teeth, gums and whole mouth are healthy.  Your dentist will also examine your cheeks, tongue and throat for any signs of other conditions that may need further evaluation.  Your dentist may also recommend additional treatments to help ensure the overall health of your mouth.2

    Tobacco use in any form – cigarettes, pipes, and smokeless tobacco – raises your risk for gum disease.1

    1Oral Health Foundation

    CDC

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