Dentist New York,NY-Dr Lawrence Spindel -Smoking

 

What are the effects on smoking on your mouth and  your teeth?

By Lawrence Spindel DDS,  Friday,  May 4, 2007 

 

Aside from the generally well known overall health risk associated with smoking cigarettes, pipes and cigars, smokers experience many negative oral problems.

• Bad breath
• increased risk of oral and pharyngeal  cancer
• increase alveolar bone loss and increased risk of periodontal disease
• increased risk of dental implants failing
• increased risk of gum infections and risk of loosing teeth
• Black stainning of teeth, both internal and extrinsic
• Diminished ability to taste

If you are a smoker and you choose to continue the habit, there are some steps you can take to minimize the oral consequences.

1. Try and have excellent oral hygiene, since it appears that smokers are more sensitive to the bacteria present in plaque as compared to non smokers. Probably, smokers have a "compromised" immune response.

2. Come in more often for dental cleanings(four times a year), since this will tend to keep your mouth healthier and you are less likely to experience periodontal disease.

3.Try cutting down on the number of cigarettes you smoke per day.  Sometimes chewing sugarless gum chewing can offer some oral satisfaction and definately  helps  release of tension.

4. Minimize your alcohol consumption, since combining alcohol and cigarettes definately increases your risks for developing oral and pharyngeal cancers.

Don't assume that you will never be able to quit, since many people who have been unable to successfully quit do eventually succed.

 

Here are some pertinent links to other websites.

The Ada smoking cessation page: http://www.ada.org/public/topics/smoking_tobacco_faq.asp

Web MD oral health page: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/smoking-oral-health

The Surgeon general's website: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/tobacco/

 

write me at:  drspindel@lspindeldds.com  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dentist New York

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Paitence, persistence and and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success”- Napoleon Hill

 

Monday, June 11, 2007