Effects of smoking on your oral health
How does smoking affect your teeth?
You probably already know that smoking is bad for your health. It can cause several health problems, including reduced fertility, heart disease and cancer. But how does it affect your mouth, gums and teeth? Here we outline many of the effects of smoking on your oral health - from stained teeth to oral cancer – as well as some tips to protect your smile.
Stained teeth
Smoking can stain your teeth. When you smoke, the nicotine and tar in tobacco can settle within the tooth enamel (the thin outer shell of your teeth). This can turn your teeth yellow very quickly. If you’re a heavy smoker, your teeth could eventually turn brown.
Tobacco stains are often tough to remove, but can usually be treated using professional stain removal and teeth whitening treatment, carried out or prescribed by your dentist.
Gum disease
In the UK, more than 45% of adults over the age of 30 have some form of periodontal disease1. Gum disease is more prevalent among smokers, and smoking can cause issues like gingivitis to worsen quickly2. Gum disease occurs when bacterial plaque (a sticky film that forms on teeth) builds up at the gum line. If left untreated, it can result in tooth loss as well as other serious health problems.
Smokers can also find it more difficult to fight off gum disease, as smoking weakens the immune system. Smoking also reduces the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream, meaning damaged gums take longer to heal.
What's more, spotting the signs of gum disease can be difficult for those who smoke, as smoking can mask some of the symptoms. For example, a typical sign of gum disease is bleeding from the gums while brushing and flossing. This may not occur if you smoke, as nicotine decreases blood flow to the gums. It’s important to see your dentist for regular check-ups, they’ll be able to detect problems such as gum disease and treat them before they develop further.Bad breath and a loss of taste
When you smoke, its smell can linger on your breath. Smoking can also cause a dry mouth and make gum disease more likely. Both of these factors can lead to bad breath, also known as halitosis.
As well as affecting your breath, smoking can also impair your senses and cause a reduction in your sense of smell and taste.
Delayed healing after treatment
Smokers are more likely to experience pain after oral surgery as well as longer healing times. This is due to smoking causing a decreased blood flow with less oxygen in the blood. After tooth extractions, smokers are also at greater risk of developing an empty, poor-healing tooth socket - known as a ‘dry socket’ - which can be painful. If you have dental implants fitted, smoking can make it harder for them to heal and more likely to fail.
Before such treatments, your dentist will take a full medical history (including your smoking history) to help determine your suitability and to provide recommendations. If you do experience pain after any treatment, it’s important to get in touch with your dentist.
Mouth cancer
If you smoke, you’re at greater risk of developing cancer. This is because the tobacco within cigarettes is carcinogenic – it includes chemicals which can change your DNA and lead to cancer. Smoking is a leading cause of mouth cancer, with over 60% of mouth cancer cases being linked to smoking.3
Your dentist may be able to spot mouth cancer in its early stages, so it’s important to have regular dental check-ups. The earlier it’s diagnosed, the better your chances of recovery.
Some key symptoms you may be able to spot include:
- Pain in your mouth
- Swellings, lumps or bumps on your lips, gums or other areas inside your mouth
- Ulcers in your mouth that won’t go away
- Difficulty in chewing or swallowing
- White or red patches in your mouth
- Bleeding from your mouth
- Numbness (loss of feeling) in your mouth
Find out more about how to spot the symptoms of mouth cancer.
These symptoms aren’t always caused by mouth cancer. However if you have any of these symptoms or any other concerns about mouth cancer, it’s important to see your GP or dentist.
How to protect your smile
Here are some top tips to keep your mouth healthy and happy:
- See your dentist for regular check-ups. They can look out for early signs of mouth cancer as well as signs of gum disease that may have been masked by smoking
- Brush your teeth twice a day, with fluoride toothpaste
- Floss regularly to clean hard to reach areas
- You can use mouthwash to help keep bad breath at bay and add a fluoride boost
- Giving up smoking is the best way to protect your teeth and gums and lower your chance of developing mouth cancer. Even if you’ve been smoking for many years, stopping can reduce your risk of smoking-related illnesses. For advice on giving up smoking, see Bupa’s useful tips on how to break a smoking habit.
Get in touch with your local practice.
If you have any questions on how to keep your mouth healthy, or would like to book a dental check-up, contact your nearest practice.
1- https://www.bsperio.org.uk/patients/gum-health-resources-for-patients
