It should be no surprise that smoking is bad for your health. It is well-known that smoking can cause cancer and we know about the lung and cardiovascular problems it creates. But are you aware of the consequences it has on your mouth? Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS of Holmdel, NJ would like her patients to be aware of the oral health risks smoking creates.
When you smoke, each draw of smoke passes right through your mouth, touching your tongue, your teeth, and your gums. As mentioned before, smoking can cause cancer. This does not just include lung cancer. Smoking can cause cancer of the mouth, lips, throat, and tongue. Smoking also increases the risk for gum disease. It causes more plaque to build up and it lessens your ability to fight an infection. This reason also increases the risk for cavities by three times.
Smoking can also give you chronic bad breath and stained teeth. The chemicals in cigarettes along with the fact that it dries out your mouth can result in bad breath that is hard to get rid of. The smoke can also stain teeth permanently. With all of what you are putting your mouth through, your sense of smell and taste may alter, as well. This can make food less enjoyable and lead you to over-salting your meals.
Smoking is undoubtedly terrible for your oral and overall health. There is one thing that can reverse these risks and symptoms though: quitting. For more information about Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS and her Holmdel, NJ dental practice, call our office at (732) 264-8180 or visit our website, www.dentistnj.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment