It is no longer the 1950’s, and thus the devastating effects of tobacco that once were a mystery to all, are now no longer hidden and are clear and evident for all to see. Anti-tobacco advertisements, package label warnings and word of mouth have quickly and efficiently demonstrated that tobacco is very detrimental for one’s health. However, despite the increased awareness that surrounds the tobacco industry in the modern age, it seems that many people do not realize the true devastating effect that the product can have on oral health. Constant advertisements push that cigarettes can cause lung disease and emphysema, in addition to various breathing related issues. While all of these issues are relevant and very real concerns that surround tobacco, it has often been overlooked that a significant proportion of America’s poor oral health can be linked back to tobacco use. In fact, over half of all cases of gum disease found in smokers in the United States is directly caused by smoking. Many cases of gum disease found in smokers is chronic and can ultimately result in the loss of teeth in victims.
Various studies have found that smokers are much more prone to experiencing oral health issues than non-smokers. One of the most common oral issues that smokers experience is smoking caused periodontal disease (gum disease). Periodontal disease is a very common yet devastating oral disease that can ultimately lead to tooth loss and decay. The bacterial infection, that is smoking caused periodontal disease, destroys the soft tissue and bone that keeps your teeth anchored to your jawbone. In doing so it allows bacteria to grow in the dental plaque that surrounds your teeth and ultimately results in various further gum and teeth related health issues.
Smoking and Oral Health: What Are The Dangers?
Periodontal disease is amongst the most common negative results of smoking, however gum disease certainly is not the only dangerous side effect of tobacco use. There are various negative oral health concerns that affect tobacco users which leaves their once healthy mouth in disarray. Some of the various oral health concerns that affect tobacco users include:
Bad Breath: While bad breath is not the most awful side effect of tobacco use, halitosis is often a direct cause of smoking in smokers. There are various reasons that smokers are plagued with bad breath as a result of their habit. The commonly termed, smokers breath, is directly caused by residing smoke particles in the mouth and lungs of smokers and tobacco users. However, the idea that smokers breath is entirely a result of residing smoke particles is just scratching the surface. The abundant chemicals found in tobacco often remain in the mouth and lungs for long periods of time and thus consequently lead to various other secondary causes of bad breath. According to a 1968 report conducted by The Journal Chemical Reviews, tobacco smoke contains over 60 different and powerful aromatic hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons are mostly carcinogenic and are known to convey a certain aroma that we mostly know as smokers breath.
Decreased Jaw Bone Density: One of the many common dangers that surround smoking is osteoporosis which leads to the increased loss of bone density. Cigarette smoking has been identified as a significant risk factor for osteoporosis for decades after various studies showing a direct correlation between tobacco use and decreased bone density. The jaw bone is often a large target for osteoporosis.
Lower Success Rate of Dental Implant Procedures: This one is a double whammy because smoking can often lead to tooth loss and it is also a direct factor in producing a low success rate of dental implant procedures. Smoking has two major effects on the mouth. Firstly, smoking literally burns the oral tissues in your mouth which produces a thick layer of top cells (keratosis). Smoking has a major effect on the salivary glands by blocking and damaging them. By occluding the salivary glands, smoking generally will result in mouth dryness. Secondly, tobacco, or more specifically the nicotine contained in tobacco, has many by-products that negatively affect peripheral blood vessels. In doing so, nicotine’s by-products basically cause blood vessels to become clamped and consequently hurts blood flow. A loss of blood flow can negatively affect both the healing and defense mechanisms in the mouth. The combined dangers of the major effects of smoking can lead to various oral issues that can cause dental implant procedures to be difficult and unsuccessful.
Increased Risk of Oral Cancer: Tobacco is a risk factor for a plethora of diseases, so many in fact that in the next hour approximately another 50 people will die due to tobacco caused illnesses. A significant proportion of the diseases caused by tobacco relate to cancer and include lung, bladder, pharyngeal, pancreatic, kidney, stomach, laryngeal, esophageal and mouth cancer. For smokers, one of the most common cancers is in fact oral cancer. Various studies indicate that there is a direct and definitive correlation between the use of tobacco and the diagnosis of oral cancer. In fact, a study conducted by The University of California, San Francisco found that over 80 percent of their study of oral cancer patients were tobacco users. It is clear that there is a direct correlation between oral cancer and tobacco use, it is even more clear that oral cancer is absolutely devastating. Approximately 48,250 new cases of Oral Cancer are diagnosed in the United States every year; worse yet more than 9,500 people die from oral cancer in the U.S. each year. Oral cancer and mouth cancer are among the greatest concerns for tobacco users, The American Cancer Society reports that:
- Approximately 90% of patients with throat cancer or a form of mouth cancer have used tobacco products. Often times increased use raises the risk factor for developing one of these dangerous and life threatening illnesses.
- Smokers are much more likely to develop a mouth or throat cancer than non-smokers. In fact, smokers are 6 times more likely to develop one of these dangerous cancers than non-smokers.
- Smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco) is not much, if any safer than cigarettes or other smoking tobacco. Chewing tobacco has been linked to various cancers of the cheek, gums and inner surface of the lips. In fact, chewing tobacco may be harmful to health than cigarettes. The risk of developing cancer of the cheek, gums or inner surface of the lips is 50 times more likely for smokeless tobacco users than non tobacco users.
- Tobacco smoke can cause cancer in various parts of the mouth and in a plethora of bodily organs. Cigars, cigarettes, pipes and other smoked tobacco methods can lead to cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx, lungs, esophagus, kidneys, bladders and other necessary organs. Pipe smoking also has been seen to increase the risk of developing cancer in the area of the lip where the pipe is rested.
- Approximately 37% of patients who continue to smoke after developing cancer and undergoing treatment will additional secondary cancers of the mouth, larynx and throat. In comparison, approximately only 6% of patients who undergo treatment but stop smoking will develop additional secondary cancers.
Smoking can lead to various oral health concerns as well as a plethora of other health issues including:
- Yellowing or browning of the teeth
- Bleeding gums
- Buildup of calculus (hardened plaque)
- Tooth decay
- Dry mouth
- A greater need for root canals
- Loss of teeth
- Damaged tooth enamel
What are The Effects of Smoking to Your Gums?
It is very clear that there are various negative effects of smoking to the oral health of tobacco users. In addition to various lurking cancer risks, tooth loss probability and bad breath, tobacco can cause various gum related issues as well. The tobacco related gum issues can begin mild but overtime likely will become very painful and and annoying. Nearly all smokers will encounter a gum related issue at some point, especially if they are regular tobacco users. The use of tobacco in any form, be it cigarettes, chewing tobacco or cigars, leads to increased tartar buildup in your mouth as well as a decreased flow of saliva. The decreased flow of saliva can prevent the necessary natural cleansing of bacteria in your mouth. Ultimately, the increased bacteria and chemicals caused by smoking can lead to various gum related illnesses including:
- Tender, swollen and red gums
- Bleeding when flossing, brushing or otherwise cleaning your teeth
- Loosening of teeth
- Pus oozing between teeth
- Pain when chewing
- Foul breath
- Looser fit for dentures
- Receding gum line
Ultimately, smoking can lead to cancer, decreased jaw bone density, a lowered success rate of dental implants and bad breath. However, the most common risk associated with smoking is an increased risk of developing periodontal or gum disease. Periodontal disease can be very detrimental to the oral health of a sufferer and can lead to various other oral health concerns. The most effective method of correcting and treating periodontal disease is by utilizing the services of a trained periodontist. There are various treatment methods utilized to ensure oral health including:
- Anti-microbial mouthwash
- Oral antibiotics
- Doxycycline gel
- Bone surgery
- Grafting soft tissue
- Flap surgery to remove tartar from pockets beneath the gums
- Deep cleaning
Cigarettes and tobacco in general are very dangerous to one’s overall health. Various studies have proven time and time again that tobacco use leads to various oral health concerns, including cancer, decreased jaw bone density and periodontal disease. Periodontist Dr. Kao can help combat some of the effects of cigarettes. However, it is important to attempt to quit smoking with the help of your doctor.
