Tobacco does not have a great reputation. Whether or not you use it, you probably think you have heard all the negative effects it can have on your health. The ill-effects are not just limited to cigarettes either, especially when it comes to the effects on your mouth’s health. Chewing tobacco and dip, along with cigarettes and cigars, can lead to unpleasant consequences on your smile. Tobacco use can increase your risk for health problems, it can cause yellow stains on your teeth, and it can leave you with constant bad breath.
Oral Cancer, Gum Disease, and More
One single cigarette contains at least 23 carcinogenic (cancer-causing) chemicals. Each chemical can eat away at cells that help to protect your mouth, throat, nose, and lungs. While your body can fight the dangerous effects for a while, eventually, the cells can morph into cancer. Tobacco in any form can lead to a heightened risk of oral or pharyngeal (throat) cancer. Chewing tobacco can eat away at your gum line, which can cause gum disease, gum recession, and eventually bone loss. It can lead to sores in your mouth that could be cancerous; tobacco use can also slow down your body’s rate of healing these sores. Tobacco can also increase your risks of developing tooth decay. Chewing tobacco that has added sugar can have an even higher risk of tooth decay.
Yellow Teeth
Tobacco use stains your smile with brown spots or just a general yellowing of the teeth. Stained teeth can be addressed through cosmetic dentistry treatments, but continued tobacco use will continue to stain the teeth.
Bad Breath
Even if you never miss brushing or flossing your teeth, smoking cigarettes or using tobacco can set you up with breath with a chronic foul odor. Chewing gum and mouthwash are only temporary fixes, while ceasing to use tobacco can help eliminate the constant source of bad breath.
Quitting tobacco can help you keep your smile and yourself healthy
Tobacco use can negatively affect both your oral and your overall health. To schedule a consultation, contact us at our Lafayette, LA, dentist’s office at 337-237-6453. We proudly serve patients from Breaux Bridge, Broussard, Scott, Youngsville, and surrounding communities.