How Smoking Affects Oral Health

A manicured hand holding a cigarette rests on a steering wheel with a red cover

Smoking is harmful to your health and can affect every part of your body. Your teeth are no different! Frequent smoking can damage both the look and function of your teeth and can lead to lasting damage. Here’s how smoking impacts your oral health.

  1. Enamel Erosion and Tooth Discoloration
  2. Smoking contains chemicals that eat way at the enamel, or protective outer layer, of your teeth, leading to yellow and stained teeth. Once you lose your enamel, your teeth are more likely to sustain decay and damage, which can eventually lead to tooth loss. Having a stained and damaged smile can significantly impact your self- confidence and have consequences for your oral health.

    Treatment:

    Teeth whitening is a great option to remove deeply set stains. We offer both in-office and custom at-home whitening so you can choose what is best for your needs, schedule, and budget.

  3. Gum Disease
  4. When you’re a smoker, your immune system easily weakens over time. The plaque and bacteria on your teeth that were once relatively easy to fight against is now potentially dangerous and can lead to infections and gum disease. If you have swollen, red, and bleeding gums, you may be developing gum disease.

    Treatment:

    If you have early stage gum disease, a deep cleaning may just do the trick to remove bacteria from under the gum line. If you are showing signs of advanced gum disease, however, your dentist will come up with a more detailed treatment plan for your individual situation.

    Quitting or avoiding smoking is another great way to keep your teeth and gums healthy, along with twice daily brushing and at least flossing once a day. Visit your dentist for an examination of your teeth and gums to make sure that they are healthy and strong.

At Arlington Dental Center, we offer an array of preventative, restorative, and cosmetic treatments for a variety of budgets. Contact us to schedule an appointment today!

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