If you want to achieve, and then maintain, a healthy and attractive smile, one of the absolute best things that you can do is to eliminate tobacco from your daily routine. The truth is that tobacco products damage your smile, and make it more difficult for your body to fight off harmful oral bacteria. Keep reading to learn more from our Elmhurst dentists…
Tobacco Use
All types of tobacco, from cigarettes, to cigars, to chewing tobacco can negatively affect the health and appearance of your smile. The more frequently and consistently you use these products, the more likely you are to develop health problems and aesthetic issues as a result.
Aesthetic Issues
There are a number of ways that tobacco can mar your smile. For example, tobacco discolors dental enamel, and causes the patient’s smile to look yellow, dull, or even gray. You may also notice that your tongue is discolored by tobacco use. Additionally, some people develop unattractive red or white sores from smoking or chewing tobacco.
Health Concerns
The number one concern regarding tobacco use, however, is how it increases a patient’s risk of developing oral health problems. Because they contain carcinogens tobacco products increase your risk of developing mouth and throat cancers.
Research has also shown that people who use tobacco products develop more cavities than those who do not, as well as suffer from periodontal disease at higher-than-normal rates. Tobacco use has also been linked to dental implant failure, as well as an impaired ability for oral tissues to heal.
We hope that you have found this information about tobacco’s impact on oral health informative and helpful. To learn more about caring for your smile, you can contact our Elmhurst dentists—we look forward to speaking with you!