What smoking does to your teeth and gums?

Most of us are aware by now that smoking jeopardises our health – it’s the leading cause of preventable deaths worldwide. But you may not realise the damage smoking does to teeth and gums. Smokers are more likely to get stained teeth and bad breath, but there’s an increased risk of more serious problems, such as tooth loss and gum disease.

Other potential oral health issues if you smoke include salivary gland infection and lesions inside the mouth. And while smoking is often associated with lung cancer, it can trigger oral cancer too. Smokers may also have more difficulty recovering after oral surgery. Furthermore, replacing missing teeth can be problematic if you smoke.

Smoking and tooth decay

Nicotine and tar in tobacco products makes smokers more susceptible to plaque build-up on teeth. Plaque is the sticky coating that forms on the surface of teeth. It contains bacteria that produce acids which eat into dental enamel – the outer, protective layer of a tooth.
This can result in cavities and tooth loss.

Tooth decay symptoms

Initial stages of tooth decay may not be obvious. As it progresses, you may get:

• Toothache.
• Tooth sensitivity.
• Small holes in your teeth.
• Difficulty eating.

Smoking and oral cancer

Chemicals in tobacco smoke increase the risk of oral cancer, which can develop anywhere in the mouth – tongue, gums, floor or roof of the mouth, inner lining of the cheeks, and lips. These substances trigger mutations in oral cellular DNA – nucleic acid that contains our genetic code. The resulting abnormal cells can grow and divide to form a tumour that may spread inside the mouth and to other parts of the head, the neck, and other areas of the body. Survival rates for cancer are promising when the disease is diagnosed early. However, the initial stages of oral cancer may go unnoticed if you don’t have regular dental check-ups. If your dentist or dental hygienist spots apparent signs of mouth cancer, advanced cancer screening can provide a precise diagnosis.

Oral Cancer Symptoms

Symptoms that may indicate oral cancer include:

• Persistent pain in the mouth.
• Ulcers that don’t heal.
• Difficulty eating.
• Speech problems.
• A lump in the mouth, lip or neck.
• Bleeding in the mouth.
• Numb mouth.
• Loose teeth.

Smoking and other oral health problems

Besides tooth loss, gum disease and oral cancer, smoking has been linked with other oral health issues, including:

Leukoplakia

Smoking is the most common cause of leukoplakia – thick, white or greyish blotches and lesions on gums, the inside of cheeks, on or under the tongue, or on the lips.

Tooth replacement issues

As a smoker with a greater risk of losing teeth, you may think tooth loss can easily be remedied with artificial teeth. It might not be as simple as you imagine, though. For example, you may opt for dental implants because you’ve heard they have a high success rate. While this is true in general, implants tend not to work as well for smokers.

You could also have problems if you get dentures. If your tooth loss is due to eroding bone and other tissue, you won’t have good support for dentures, and you’ll regularly need new ones as your jaw shrinks.

Teeth staining and bad breath

When you smoke, nicotine and tar is absorbed by the surfaces of teeth. This quickly turns teeth yellow. After years of smoking, teeth can darken to a brownish colour. Because of constant build-up over time, tobacco stains on teeth are difficult to remove without cosmetic dental treatment. Staining settles deep into dental enamel and often penetrates to the underlying layer of dentin.

The stale odour of “smoker’s breath” is another issue, caused by:

• Smoke lingering in the mouth.
• Infection from gum disease.
• Chemical residues from tobacco remaining in the mouth.
• Dry mouth due to lack of saliva.

Oral and general health

Smoking increases the risk of oral disease, infection from which can travel through the bloodstream and become systemic, affecting multiple systems and tissues throughout the body.

This can cause or aggravate medical conditions such as:

• Stroke.
• Heart disease.
• Diabetes.
• Lung disease.

And all types of tobacco products contain chemicals that can harm the entire body as well as teeth and gums.

Cosmetic dentistry

Dental veneers and professional teeth whitening conceal or lighten teeth staining. However, the results will be compromised if you smoke. The best solution is to stop smoking first, and then get cosmetic dental treatment.

Professional Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening by a dentist is faster and more effective than over-the-counter whitening products and bleaching kits. It lightens staining of both enamel and dentin to produce dramatic results, with teeth many shades lighter. Cosmetic dentists are able to use materials with powerful bleaching properties, and treatment is monitored during each stage of the whitening process to protect your mouth. However, teeth whitening isn’t a permanent solution, and people who smoke will need more repeated treatments. The best way to prolong the results of teeth whitening is to stop smoking.

How to stop smoking?

As well as damaging teeth and gums, smoking can be fatal. According to the Singapore HealthHub public healthcare online facility, six Singaporeans die each day from a smoking-related disease. No surprise, then, that kicking the habit is a priority among many smokers. It presents a real challenge, though – the nicotine in tobacco products is a highly addictive drug, like cocaine and heroin.

FAQs

At NoFrills Dental, our patients often ask us about the oral health effects of smoking, with questions such as: