Why Quitting Smoking is the Best Thing You Can Do for Dental Health

It’s probably no surprise to you that smoking tobacco is harmful to a person’s overall health. But it’s easy to forget how harmful tobacco is to oral health and dental hygiene. There’s a strong link between smoking and gum disease, tooth decay, oral cancer, and other dental complications.

There are many ways that smoking affects your teeth, gums, and other parts of your mouth. If you smoke, quitting may be the most beneficial thing you do for yourself, no matter how old you are or how long you’ve been smoking.

Smoking Increases Plaque & Tartar Build-up

Cigarettes contain about 600 ingredients, including

• Nicotine
• Tar
• Acetone
• Arsenic
• Butane
• Lead
• Formaldehyde

Cigarette chemicals can irritate and inflame the gums and the mouth’s lining. They also reduce the production of saliva, which naturally cleans the mouth. As a result, dry mouth occurs, weakening a tooth’s defense against the accumulation of tartar, which requires professional dental cleaning.

Smoking Increases the Risk of Gum Disease

Excess tartar can lead to gum disease or periodontitis in more severe cases. Gum disease causes inflammation that affects the jawbone and other supportive tissues.

Smokers not only have a higher risk of gum disease but an increased risk of tooth decay and loss. Many smokers who don’t kick the habit must get implant crowns to replace missing teeth lost to gum disease and other deterioration.

Smoking Weakens the Immune System

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), smoking weakens your immune system. This includes several side effects, including hindered recovery from surgery. Compromised immunity can also make it more difficult for your body to fight off infection in your mouth, jaw, and other areas of the body.

Smoking Diminishes Your Appearance

In addition to the harmful effects on oral health, smoking can negatively affect your smile and appearance. For example, tobacco use can diminish the results of teeth whitening. Many smokers undergo professional teeth whitening to remove tobacco stains and discoloration. Unfortunately, the results are usually not very noticeable or long-lasting.

Smoking can interfere with other cosmetic procedures like dental crowns, implants, and other restorative care. That’s because the bone and tissue in a smoker’s mouth eventually break down, reducing the feasibility and effectiveness of some cosmetic surgeries.

Want to Quit? There’s Help Available

No matter how old you are, it’s never too late to quit smoking! Quitting dramatically reduces many risks to oral health and helps the body begin to restore its overall well-being.

If you need help, there are many helpful resources available. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers these five steps for quitting:

1. Set a date when you decide to quit.
2. Ask family and friends for support. Also, seek help from health professionals like your doctor & family dentist.
3. Talk to other smokers who are trying to quit.
4. Find ways to distract yourself, like chewing your favorite flavor of gum. Knit, play a video game, exercise, or squeeze a stress ball to keep your hands occupied.
5. Talk to your doctor or dentist about medications that can help you quit. Your provider might recommend nicotine gum or cessation aids like Chantix.
6. Be prepared for setbacks, relapses, and other obstacles. The important thing to shoot for is progress toward being tobacco-free.

For a quick resource, download the CDC’s app quitSTART for daily tips, inspiration, and ways to track your progress. You can also get confidential coaching by calling a Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).