Tobacco is a No-Go for a Healthy Mouth

Tobacco is a No-Go for a Healthy Mouth

When we hear about tobacco, we often hear about its adverse effects on our lungs. But what about its effect on our teeth? All the chemicals hidden in cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and chewing tobacco cause the typical discoloration of your teeth, but they can also damage your mouth on a deeper level.

Hygienically speaking, tobacco use can cause halitosis (bad breath!) due to the passage of chemicals back and forth through the airways. It can also cause users to have a hairy tongue because it limits the shedding of the dead cells from the tongue–yuck! On a level more closely related to health and disease, its use can cause everything from gum disease to oral cancers. Many carcinogens and harmful artificial substances are stored in tobacco products, and none of these are beneficial to your mental or physical health.

Much of this information isn’t new–but thinking about it in regards to your mouth likely isn’t something in forefront of the discussion. If you are struggling with an addiction to any sort of nicotine-containing product, take control of your addiction by asking for assistance. Visiting your dentist’s office is an important component of the healing process, whether you have noticeable effects from tobacco or not. Dr. Carter’s team can treat you both cosmetically and physiologically, and they always strive to provide you with a comprehensive treatment plan from the start.