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HEALTHY
Effects of smoking and vaping on oral health
People who smoke have a higher risk of gum tree problems, tooth loss, complications after tooth removal and operation in the mouth, and developing mouth cancer. They are more likely to get infections and don ’ t heal a well as non-smokers.
Quitting smoking improves sass cancer, reduces the risk of developing glue disease and mouthpiece cancer, and improves the person ’ south reply to gum treatment. It is identical crucial for people who smoke to visit their dentist regularly to keep their teeth and gums healthy and check for signs of mouth cancer. It is besides important for people who vape to visit a dentist regularly to detect and treat any oral health problems. If you vape, make certain to tell your dentist this.
Less adults smoke now than they used to, but it calm remains a problem. In 2018, 10.7 % of victorian adults smoked.
Contents
How does smoking affect teeth, gums and oral health?
The most common oral problems affecting people who smoke are :
Gum (or periodontal) disease
.
Mouth cancer
.
- Whitening of the soft tissue in the mouth (called smoker’s keratosis).
- Poor healing after tooth removal (known as dry socket).
Tooth decay
.
- Tooth loss.
- Poor healing after mouth and gum surgery.
- Decreased taste.
- Bad taste in the mouth and
bad breath (called halitosis)
.
Smoking and gum (periodontal) disease
Smoking can cause gum disease. Gum disease ( besides called periodontic disease ) is caused by an infection that destroys the bone smother and supporting your teeth. This cram holds the dentition to the lower jaw to chew food. Bacteria and food debris called alveolar consonant brass can cause gum disease.
If left on teeth and gums, brass hardens to form calculus or tartar. The brass and tartar irritate the gums around tooth. This is much seen in people who smoke. The two stages of gum disease are gingivitis and periodontal disease. If periodontal disease is not treated, the structures that hold the tooth to the gum can become damage. Teeth may become informal, fall out by themselves, or a dentist may have to remove them.
Preventing tooth loss is important
It is authoritative to prevent tooth loss. Losing tooth towards the back of your mouth can create problems with chewing food. Losing teeth at the front of the mouth affects your ability to eat, your appearance, and can create problems with speech. Teeth besides play an important function in holding the form of the lower separate of the face.
Smoking increases gum disease risk
The risk of gumwood disease is higher :
- For a person who smokes less than 10 cigarettes a day, compared to someone who smokes none.
- This increases 4 to 5 times more likely for people who smoke heavily.
If you smoke the keep up may occur :
- Tooth loss (of some or all your natural teeth), making it difficult to chew certain foods, speak clearly or have confidence to smile if lost teeth aren’t replaced.
- Gum disease may be harder to detect. Bleeding gums – usually an indication of gum disease – may not be present as tobacco causes poor blood supply to the gums. Not respond as well to gum treatment (professional dental cleaning) as non-smokers.
- Severe periodontal disease – the risk increases with
alcohol use
.
- At a higher risk of developing acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis. This is very painful condition that causes a terrible smell and taste.
Will my gums get better if I stop smoking?
Yes. The good news is that people who quit smoking have the same risk of developing gumwood disease and responding to gum treatment as non-smokers. once you quit smoking, don ’ thymine be alarmed if your gums bleed more. try treatment from a dentist or dental hygienist. They can besides show you how to care for your teeth at home.
Smoking and symptoms of gum disease
If you smoke, it is authoritative to see your dentist for regular check-ups. Symptoms of gum disease to watch for include :
- Red, swollen, tender, bleeding gums.
- Discharge (pus) coming from your gums.
- Gums that are loose and pull away from your teeth.
- A bad taste or bad breath.
- Loose teeth. This can change the feel of your bite when your teeth are placed together or make dentures fit differently.
- Spaces opening between your teeth.
Smoking and slow healing after dental treatment
tobacco use makes it harder for the immune system to fight infections. This slows down healing after tooth removal or injuries in the talk. Smoking may lead to :
- Dry socket – a slow healing tooth socket after a tooth removal which is very painful.
- Increased pain after oral and gum surgery.
- Less success if you have dental implants.
Contact your dentist if you have any problems after dental treatment.
Mouth cancer and smoking risk
Mouth cancer ( or oral cancer ) is cancer of the mouth including the tongue, cheek, roof or floor of the mouth, and lips. smoke is one of the main risk factors for mouth cancer. More than 746 Victorians are diagnosed with mouthpiece cancer every year.
People who smoke and drink alcohol have an tied greater risk of developing mouth cancer than those who merely do one or the early. finally, those who have quit smoke have the lapp risk of developing mouth cancer as non-smokers, so it ’ south never besides belated to quit.
Mouth cancer in people who smoke is most probably to occur on the side of the tongue, the floor of the mouth and lips. It can besides happen in other areas of the mouth. early diagnosis is important so discussion can start a early as potential before the cancer advances or spreads to other parts of the body. Treatment for mouth cancer includes operating room, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Symptoms of mouth cancer
Please see your dentist or doctor immediately if you notice any :
- Persistent
ulcer in your mouth
or on your lip that does not disappear after 7 to 10 days, particularly if the ulcer is not painful.
- White or red patch in your mouth.
- Swelling in your mouth.
- Dentures suddenly not fitting properly.
Health risks of vaping
Smoking e-cigarettes or water pipes ( known as vaping ) – may seem less harmful than smoking regular cigarettes. Yet this may not be the encase for the health of your talk. When you vape, you inhale e-liquids ( besides called vaping juice ) which, even when labelled ‘ nicotine-free ’, can contain harmful substances. These include :
- Nicotine.
- Heavy metals.
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
- Cancer-causing chemicals.
The risk of vaping devices causing problems in your mouth is much higher if they contain nicotine. The long-run effects of vaping are not fully known. Yet there is some evidence that vaping can cause ignition in the mouth, which can lead to gum disease and other oral health problems. temp loss of taste may happen in some people ( besides called vape natural language ). Vaping may be seen as a way to quit fume. Yet vaping may make it harder to quit smoking completely which increases the risk of diseases associated with tobacco use, such as mouth cancer.
Preventing teeth and gum problems in smokers
If you are a smoker, there are some things you can do to prevent tooth and gum problems, including :
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Try to quit smoking
– speak to your doctor, dentist or call Quitline for guidance and support.
- If you’re finding it difficult to quit smoking, try and reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke to start off with.
- Clean your teeth and gums twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
- Use dental floss (for small gaps) or interdental brushes (for big gaps) once a day to clean between your teeth.
- Visit your dentist every 6 to 12 months. They can provide advice about the proper care of your teeth and gums at home and find problems early. Regular visits can help to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
- Avoid having a dry mouth. Drink plenty of water and chew sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva flow. This is especially important if you take medications that cause dry mouth.
- Limit alcohol and avoid recreational drugs.