Tariq Drabu on How Smoking Can Affect Oral Health

Oral health has become an important factor for thousands of people throughout the

world. With oral cancer and gum disease numbers on the rise worldwide, more

people are paying more attention to their oral health than ever before.

That being said, what many people don’t realise is that their lifestyle choices can

have a negative effect on their oral health. One of the biggest problems we face as

dental professionals is speaking to our patients about smoking and how it can

negatively impact their oral health moving forward.

One of the first things many smokers realise is that smoking stains their teeth. Tooth

staining can lead to lack of self-confidence and low self-esteem. Being unable to

smile can have a negative effect on emotions. While there are tooth whitening

solutions available from your dental professional, prevention is always better than

cure.

Smoking also causes a build-up of plaque. In most instances I find my patients that

smoke advise me that they suffer from dry mouth. Lack of saliva can cause plaque to

build up quickly, this can lead to gum disease and tooth decay moving forward.

One of the biggest problems that smokers face these days is gum disease. There

are two types of gum disease that smokers need to be aware of and the minute they

notice any signs or symptoms, they should make an appointment with their dentist.

Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease which causes inflammation and pain, while

periodontal disease is severe gum disease. If periodontal gum disease is ignored, it

can lead to tooth loss.

The final way smoking can impact oral health is seen with the increase in oral cancer

cases seen in the UK each year. There are over six thousand new oral cancer cases

diagnosed each year with two thousand fatalities. There are more deaths caused by

oral cancer than cervical and testicular cancer combined. One of the main causes of

oral cancer is lifestyle choices. This includes smoking, diet and excessive alcohol

consumption.

I encourage my patients to be honest with me when it comes to smoking. If they

smoke, I would rather know this straight off the bat, so I know what to look for. I can

also help them manage their oral health effectively with good brushing techniques

and flossing to help fight oral disease and ensure good oral health in the future.