Smoking can have some undesirable affects on your dental health. The mouth is the first area that smoke has to travel through in order to enter the body. This is something I want to go over for all you smokers out there so that you can understand the dangers of smoking to your dental health. If you understand what takes place better, then you can take steps to prevent it more easily.
First and foremost, bad breath is an ailment that has plagued smokers since the first cigarette was smoked. This can be prevented by proper dental hygiene at home. Be sure to brush at least twice a day and floss once each day.
Tooth discoloration can also be caused by smoking.
Smoking increases plaque and tartar on the teeth. This makes the visits to the dentist much more important for a smoker. Likewise you do have an increased risk of gum disease, which can cause tooth loss. You may need to get cleanings more frequently, as a smoker, to prevent gum disease and tooth decay.
Oral surgery is less likely to be successful and will often take longer to heal. And last but not least, smoking increases the risk of oral cancer.
The bottom line is that smoking is not good for your dental health and can cause some very serious complications in your mouth. If you are trying to quit smoking ask your dentist for any helpful tips as this is really the best way to prevent these things from occurring. However, if you are not planning on quitting any time soon, be sure to schedule a cleaning with your dentist!