How Does Smoking Affect My Dental Health?

You may have heard that smoking and using tobacco products can negatively affect your oral health. It’s true! Smoking can harm your teeth, gums, and the other tissues in your mouth. Your dentist in Peoria, IL, can answer your questions about the impact of smoking on your teeth. It’s important to have this information so you can take good care of your oral health. Here’s what you need to know.

What Smoking Does To Your Oral Health

Smoking can impact your oral health in many ways.

• Gum disease and gum recession: Smoking makes it harder to recover from gum disease, and can contribute to gum recession, which can lead to tooth sensitivity, deterioration of the jaw, loose teeth, and more.
• Increased risk of mouth cancer: Smoking puts patients at increased risk for oral cancer.
• Longer healing time following oral procedures and surgeries: People who smoke often have longer healing times following procedures like dental implant installation. This can put them at risk of having a failed implant attempt.

What You Can Do to Protect Your Oral Health

There are many things you can do to protect your oral health. Here’s what you need to know.

Change Your Habits

The best thing you can do for your teeth and gums is to stop smoking and using tobacco products. Talk to your doctor for smoking cessation suggestions.

Get Checked for Oral Cancer

Oral cancers often go undetected in patients until they’ve already spread. Your dentist can check you for oral cancer.

See the Dentist Regularly

See your dentist every six months to get your teeth cleaned. Seeing the dentist will help prevent buildup of plaque around your teeth, which can prevent problems like gum disease.

Maintain a Good Oral Hygiene Regimen

Brush your teeth twice every day. If possible, use an electric toothbrush recommended by your dentist. Floss your teeth once each day. Stay hydrated and eat a diet low in sugar.

Warning Signs to Watch For

It’s important to watch for warning signs of oral problems like receding gums, bad breath that won’t go away, and sores that won’t heal in your mouth. If you’re noticing warning signs of a problem, contact your dentist for a dental checkup in Peoria IL. Call today.