It doesn’t take rocket science to know that smoking is technically bad for us. At smilogy we understand that we all have our weaknesses and so you won’t get any judgement here.
However, we love when our customers can make informed decisions and protect themselves, so here’s how it can have some pretty big impacts on your oral health.
It Builds Up Plaque & Tartar
When you smoke, the flow of saliva in your mouth gets affected - there’s way less of it. This makes it easier for bacteria to stick to your smile and turn into plaque.
The good news is that plaque can be kept at bay with good oral hygiene. It’s important to brush twice every day for at least two minutes, and to dedicate time to flossing as well. There are special smokers’ toothpastes available, but they can be quite abrasive. Talk to your dentist about choosing the right one.
If plaque hardens, it turns into tartar or calculus. That’s another reason to come in and see us.
Your Teeth Might Fall Out
Smokers are more likely to develop periodontal disease, which is just the technical term for gum disease. This is nothing to be ignored, because it can actually cause permanent tooth loss.
Infection attacks the roots of your teeth and gums, and your teeth start to recede. This allows even more bacteria to get in, which your body may not be able to fight as well due to a weakened immune system.
It’s The Biggest Cause Of Oral Cancer
We’re not trying to scare you, but almost two third of oral cancer happens to smokers. That includes cancers of the lips, throat and mouth itself.
It goes without saying that this can be incredibly serious, so we recommend speaking to your GP about available help with cutting down.
It Stains Your Teeth
Smoking and chewing tobacco can bring on smile discolouration. The more you smoke, the worse this can actually get.
We’ve got a whole selection of teeth whitening blogs, explaining how they become stained. If you can’t give up smoking, whitening with smilogy may be an option.
It Causes Bad Breath
This one’s pretty self explanatory! While brushing and using mouthwash can help, it can unfortunately be quite difficult to avoid the smell.
The effects can be long lasting, even if you cut back. As we’ve explained, smokers tend to have more plaque on their teeth, which can lead to bad breath as well.
It Can Cause Bleeding Gums
There are a few reasons why your gums may bleed as a smoker. Firstly, it could indicate gum disease, and you’ve learned above.
However, smoking also disrupts the blood flow in your body, which can cause more infections and change the function of your gum tissue.
Don’t Forget To See Your Dentist
At smilogy, we recommend that adults see one of our Australian dentists or hygienists every 6-12 months. As a smoker, it’s often advisable to come in more frequently, so that we can examine the health of your teeth, tongue, throat and gums.
You’ll have a full clean to get rid of tartar and plaque, and we’ll discuss our exciting whitening options with you if you want as well.
Finally, we know it’s tough to kick a habit. Our dentists can signpost you to organisations who may be able to help you quit smoking, or you can refer to official government advice here.
Book Your Appointment Now
For a confidential and convenient appointment in your local area, get in touch and book in for your free scan now with one of our friendly Australian dental professionals.