It has been 50 years since the first Surgeon General’s report was published stating that smoking is bad for your health. Amherst, NY dentists Dr. Walter and Karl Neuhaus encourage their patients to quit smoking to protect their oral health. Smoking has been linked to oral cancer, increased risk of strokes, dry mouth, tooth discoloration, and other complex dental health concerns.
Your Oral Health & Smoking
- Aged Smile: Smoking can prematurely age the appearance of your smile. Nicotine causes discoloration and yellowing of teeth. Smoking can also cause fine lines and wrinkles around your lips. Habitual smokers may appear older than they are due to the side effects of smoking.
- Increase in Tooth Decay: Tobacco products stunt saliva production. Saliva production is essential to your oral health. Saliva washes away debris and keeps your moral bacteria in balance. Smoking may lead to dry mouth. Dry mouth is a common cause for increased tooth decay and cavity development in adults. Cavities if left untreated may require advanced dental treatments.
- Gum Disease: Smoking has been shown to increase the likelihood a patient will develop gum disease. Gum disease is a progressive condition that can lead to habitually bad breath, a receding gum line and even tooth loss. Gum disease has also been tied to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s Disease. Routine oral health care, like brushing, flossing, and routine visits to our Amherst dentist office, can help prevent gum disease. Our dentists offer periodontal screenings that can help catch gum disease in its early stages. Your Creekside dentist will suggest an individualized treatment plan depending on your gum disease progression.
- Cancer: Patients who smoke are at a much higher risk of developing oral cancer. Oral cancer is commonly not diagnosed until the later stages is a potentially life-threatening disease. that is directly linked to the use of tobacco products. Our dentists perform routine oral cancer screenings at every dentist office visit. Early diagnosis of oral cancer could be life-saving. If you notice white patches on your gums, be sure to schedule a visit to our Amherst dentist office.
Schedule A Dental Health Exam
Early diagnosis is essential for early intervention of developing complex oral health concerns. If you are experiencing tooth pain, notice white patches on your gums, experience frequent sensitivity or notice a strange smell or taste to your mouth, schedule a visit to our Amherst, NY dentist office as soon as possible.