The stop smoking campaigns are ubiquitous, but these campaigns advertise primarily the risk of lung cancer and heart disease. What is not often talked about, but should be are the effects smoking has to your oral health. A few of the risks include oral cancer, diminished ability to taste and smell, gum disease and complicated recovery from oral health issues.
Dealing with Disease
Aside from cancer, gum (periodontal) disease is one of the top concerns of smoking. Tobacco interferes with cell function and nicotine restricts blood vessels, interfering with the body’s ability to heal. It can leave you more susceptible to contracting gum disease, or could make it more difficult to overcome a bacterial infection in your mouth, causing you to experience unnecessary complications.
Recovering from Dental Procedures
Many people have difficulty recovering from dental procedures, especially if their immune system is compromised. This is exactly what occurs when a person smokes. The body becomes less able to repair itself after trauma, including surgery on the mouth. This leaves your gums at risk for infection or at the very least, leaves you unable to eat, talk or smile normally for an extended period of time.
The best way to save yourself from the risk of serious illness or complications is to quit smoking. Before you start a smoking cessation program, you should have proper support in place to help you through the difficult time. Your dental professional can counsel you and/or prescribe medication to help with smoking cessation. As you begin to eliminate tobacco from your life, remind yourself of the positive impact you will be making on your physical and oral health as a result.
To learn more about the effects of smoking and receive information on cessation, please call us at (425) 209-0321.
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