Can Affect Your Teeth: The verdict’s in. Smoking can affect your teeth — and a lot more than that.

We all know how dangerous smoking is for your lungs. But did you know that smoking can affect your entire oral health?

It’s Not Just Yellow Teeth

Yes, smoking does stain your teeth, fillings, dentures, and even dental implants. But the damage smoking does to your teeth goes way beyond discolouration.

Let’s start with the toothpaste you use to remove those stains. If you use it often, the abrasive ingredients in smokers’ toothpaste can wear down your teeth’s protective enamel.

That’s just for starters. Smoking can also cause tooth decay and tooth loss — and then, after you lose your tooth, you won’t heal as quickly.

It’s Not Just Your Mouth

You probably know about smoker’s breath. You know, when your partner turns away from you in disgust after you’ve had a smoke or two.

Come to think of it, you’re likely not to like the taste of your own breath, either. That taste overwhelms your taste buds, decreasing your ability to taste food.

But what you might not know is that smoking can degrade the condition of the delicate tissues inside your mouth in a condition called ‘smoker’s keratosis.’

It’s Your Whole Body

It gets worse. Smokers also have an increased risk of oral cancer, a highly fatal form of the disease.

Smoking also can cause gum disease, which can, if untreated, lead to tooth loss and even serious health challenges, such as heart disease and blood clots. In fact, smokers are six times more likely to have gum disease than their non-smoking counterparts.

The reason? Smoking restricts the blood flow to your gums.

Bottom line: Smoking affects a lot more than your teeth. It’s devastating for your oral health — and your entire body.

It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way

We’re not going to say it’s going to be easy. But if you want to quit, we’re here to offer our support, no matter what method you use to get to your goal.

There are a variety of strategies you can use to start your journey towards better lung and oral health through smoking cessation. They include:

• Quitting abruptly (‘cold turkey’)
• Cutting down gradually
• Over-the-counter nicotine replacement, such as patches and gum
• Prescription medication
• Counselling and psychotherapy

You can also find online tools and other resources that can help you quit smoking at the Australian Government’s Department of Health website. And, if you live in the greater Sydney area, our dentists and dental hygienists will be glad to help you on your journey with smoking cessation advice.

Regular dental check-ups, along with teeth whitening, and other treatments, can help you restore your teeth and gums to health during the quitting process. Book your check-up appointment today!