Harbor Point Dentists Point Out the Effects of Smoking on Oral Health
Our dentists here at Harbor Point Dental Group are always committed to providing aid to their patients oral health. Our dentists have identified that smoking leads to not only a decline in lung health, but also puts your smile at risk. Tobacco products often contain gritty materials that work like sandpaper against your teeth by wearing away tooth enamel. Along with the wearing away of our enamel, smoking can lead to other dental problems such as bad breath and stained teeth. It also increases tartar buildup within your mouth, and eventually tooth decay. Smoking can also delay the healing process following tooth extraction, periodontal treatment, or oral surgery. It also causes implants to have a much lower success rate due to the increased loss of bone within the jaw. Smoking can even dull your sense of taste and smell.
Harbor Point Identifies a High Risk of Gum Disease in Patients Who Smoke
Smoking and other tobacco products can lead to gum disease by affecting the attachment of bone and soft tissue to your teeth. More specifically, it appears that smoking interferes with the normal function of gum tissue cells. This interference makes smokers more susceptible to infections, such as periodontal disease, and also seems to impair blood flow to the gums. This can wound healing from a dental extraction, as well as healing after an implant procedure. Non-smokers are not exempt from developing gum disease. Even second had smoke can put you at risk for gum disease.
Harbor Point Warns You of the Increased Risk of Oral Cancer
Not only are you at risk of developing lung cancer from smoking, but you are also putting yourself at risk for developing oral cancer. Recent studies by our dentists here at Harbor Point show that 90% of oral cancer patients are smokers. Sadly, substituting cigarettes with pipes, cigars, and chewing tobacco does not decrease the risk of developing oral cancer. Smokeless tobacco contains nicotine, sweeteners, abrasives, salts and many other chemicals. More than 28 of those chemicals cause cancer. The fact of the matter is that tobacco products do put you at risk, and it is advised to avoid the use of these products.
Harbor Point Dentists Show Patients the Advantages of Quitting
Tobacco products contain nicotine, which is highly addictive, and makes it very hard for people to quit. If you quit smoking, all of these oral health issues decrease significantly, and lead to a much healthier body over all. If you have never smoked before, our dentists advise you not to start. It is much easier to stay away from smoking, and lead a healthy lifestyle if your body is not looking for it. If you are interested in quitting smoking, talk to our dental professionals here at Harbor Point Dental Group. We can not only provide you with proper dental treatment of the effects of smoking, but we can help you put together a game plan to kick the habit. Together, we can start down the path to better oral health. Our dentists at Harbor Point Dental Group will help you take the first step.
