As your trusted Charleston, WV dentist and dental team, we at Smith Family Dentistry would be remiss if we didn’t talk about all of the oral hazards of smoking. Not only can smoking harm your body, but it’s just as damaging to your mouth. While we offer Charleston, WV cosmetic dentistry treatments, it’s not quite enough to reverse all the ways that smoking can ruin your mouth, some of which are as follows.

DISCOLORED TEETH

One of the surest signs that someone is a smoker is that his or her teeth are yellow or stained. The chemicals that are in tobacco will stick to a person’s enamel, causing them to yellow over time. While there’s teeth whitening and other Charleston, WV cosmetic dentistry treatments that can slow down the staining, it won’t stop it completely until that person quits smoking.

GUM DISEASE

Smokers are much more likely to develop gum disease than nonsmokers and the more a person smokes, the more likely it’ll be that gum disease occurs. This is because smoking decreases the mouth’s ability to stave off bacteria, which can allow it to build up on the teeth and then make its way to the gums. If this is left untreated, the gums can pull away from the teeth and cause the underlying bone structures to weaken. In more severe cases, periodontitis can occur and teeth may even loosen and fall out.

BAD BREATH

Cigarette particles will remain in a person’s mouth a while after the cigarette is finished. This will essentially make a smoker’s breath smell like an ashtray long after he or she is done smoking. Smoking can also lead to bad breath because of the bacteria that’s in the smoker’s mouth and also because of the oral problems that smoking causes. Gum disease and mouth sores can be caused by cigarettes, which often tend to smell bad.

ORAL CANCER

The most serious of all the ways that smoking can affect a person is through oral cancer. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, approximately 50,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer each year with a whopping 80 percent of them being smokers. Oral cancer usually starts as a white or red patch in the mouth and develops into difficulty with chewing or numbness in the jaw. If you notice these symptoms, please see a doctor as soon as possible. The earlier that cancer is detected, the better of a chance that you’ll have of treating it.

Contact Your Dentist in Charleston, WV!

Please feel free to fill out our appointment request form if you’re interested in scheduling an appointment with your South Charleston dentist. Alternatively, you can give us a call at (304) 343-9131 to schedule a visit. We can’t wait to see you and help you attain a healthier smile!