Everybody knows that smoking is bad for your health, but a new study will make dentists even more adamant that their patients give up tobacco. The study, carried out by German and American scientists, found that male smokers are 3.6 times more likely to lose their teeth than non-smokers, whereas female smokers were shown to be 2.5 times more likely. And tooth loss remains a big public health concern worldwide. 30% of 65 to 74 year-olds have lost all of their teeth. So why make your odds worse? We recommend putting away that pack of smokes forever.
Of course, smoking causes other dental problems. Smoking has been directly linked to the following issues:
- Increased risk of developing oral cancers
- Bad breath
- Yellow or brown teeth
- Increased levels of plaque and tartar
- Loss of bone within the jaw
- Longer healing process following tooth extraction
- Inflammation of the salivary gland openings on the roof of the mouth
If you smoke, quitting today would be a wise decision, but what if you already quit? First off, congratulations, you have taken a major step in improving your oral health. Secondly, you probably still notice some of the lingering effects of tobacco, especially if it stained your teeth. There is a solution. Our office uses the advanced ZOOM! teeth whitening system, which whiten a patient’s tooth up to eight shades in only two hours.
If you are interested in our Zoom! teeth whitening services, or any of the other services we offer, you can contact us here or by calling us at 858.755