The Effects of Smoking on Teeth

The teeth are delicate yet they are also one of the strongest parts of our bodies. They allow for chewing and grinding up of all of the foods that are consumed each day. They also provide a person with a glowing smile, which can be good for social settings and for one’s self-esteem.

Because the teeth are so delicate, it is important that someone maintains proper oral care each day to ensure that they stay in good condition. However, there are a lot of people that smoke which can severely harm the teeth and the gums.

Knowing what effects smoking has on the teeth can be beneficial to one who might be curious about how bad smoking really is for them. Today, we will discuss these benefits, read more below:

How smoking affects teeth

Smoking tobacco often causes staining on the teeth over time. The tobacco has agents in it that strips the teeth of their natural pearly color and in turn, stains the surface. The teeth will often yellow over time as well as gain brown stains between each teeth. Agents in tobacco stick to the surface of the teeth which inevitably eat away at the pearly surface causing staining to occur.

Inflammation around the teeth

Because smoking can often lead to gum disease, the teeth also end up being affected as well. When people smoke excessively, the gums are likely to get infected over time thus causing the gum lining that reaches the teeth to be inflamed as well. When the gums are inflamed, it leads to the gum lining being inflamed as well which may cause pain for around the teeth.

Sensitivity

Agents within tobacco are so harmful to the teeth that most people may not realize what can happen. This becomes especially true when the teeth become more sensitive to extremely hot and cold temperatures within food and beverages.

Smoking tobacco excessively causes stripping of the enamel which often leads to sensitivity. The enamel works as the protective layer for the teeth and smoking decreases how protective this layer is. Once the enamel begins to strip, the teeth are likely to experience extreme sensitivity.

Conclusion

Smoking is harmful to the entire body but most importantly, it is harmful to the teeth. Being aware of what effects smoking can have on the teeth, can be beneficial in motivating people to stop smoking. These effects are dangerous and over time can really put a person at risk for things like oral cancer or gum disease.

If you have questions about how bad smoking can be for your teeth then reach out to our office today. Our trained professionals can help answer any questions or concerns that you might have. Give us a call today!