The 7 most harmful effects of tobacco in our mouths

Tobacco is a habit that is still too deeply rooted, despite its detrimental health consequences. Although, according to a report by WHO, the World Health Organization, tobacco control policies have increased dramatically in recent years, the general perception is that the real effects and extent of tobacco use are unknown.

Although tobacco negatively affects health in general, in this post we will focus on its effects on oral health. Our mouth is essential in our daily life: we use it to eat, drink, smile, talk, kiss, laugh…. But we often don’t worry enough about taking care of it until an obvious health problem arises.

With regard to tobacco, patients are usually more concerned about the esthetic effects, since these are the most visible, such as nicotine stains or the yellowish color of the teeth caused by continued consumption.

But the harmful effects of tobacco on our oral health go much further. We explain what are the main ones.

Bad breath

Some components of tobacco, such as nicotine and tar, adhere to the mucous membranes and teeth when the smoke passes through the oral cavity, so that the smell of tobacco remains in the mouth for some time. In addition, these components also alter the bacterial balance of our mouth and dry it out, which favors halitosis or bad breath.

2. Alterations in the color of the teeth

One of the best known effects of tobacco is the yellowing and staining of tooth enamel caused by nicotine and tar. Although in an initial state this can be corrected with tooth whitening, with the passage of time and continued tobacco consumption the stains can become very difficult to remove. And it is not just an aesthetic issue: People with stained or yellowed teeth often have confidence problems when it comes to speaking, smiling and laughing normally, which affects their self-esteem.

3. Caries

The components of tobacco alter the oral flora that protects us from caries, leaving our dental enamel more exposed to its effects. In addition, the dry mouth or xerostomia caused by tobacco causes harmful components to remain longer in the mouth, since one of the functions of saliva is to “drag” the residues from the mouth and clean it.

4. Decreased sense of taste

Tobacco alters the taste buds, which affects the sense of taste in smokers. This loss of sense of taste not only results in less enjoyment of food and beverages, but for example, they tend to find food bland, so they tend to consume more salt than non-smokers, which carries a risk of hypertension, among other things.

5. Reduced healing capacity

The decrease of defenses and blood flow in the mouth affect our healing capacity, so that in the event of an extraction or implantology intervention we run a greater risk of infection, since it takes longer to heal the wound, and even of implant failure.

6. Increased risk of periodontal disease

The main risk with periodontal diseases and tobacco is that they do not seem so serious, so it takes longer to detect them. This is because smoking decreases the blood supply to the gums, so they appear less inflamed and bleed less (the symptom that usually sets off the alarms of a gingival problem). Thus, it is very likely that the disease will be detected at a more advanced stage. In addition, smoking triples the risk of suffering from periodontal disease, as it reduces the immune system’s contribution of defenses to deal with bacterial infection.

7. Oral cancer

Tobacco contains carcinogenic substances that increase the risk of oral cancer. In fact, according to the WHO, tobacco and alcohol are two important causal factors in this disease, due to the chemical changes that these substances, ingested continuously, can cause in the oral cavity. A self-examination of the mouth looking for small wounds or ulcers that do not heal under the tongue, on the lips or on the palate is highly recommended in patients with risk factors.

 

In other words, the effects of smoking on our mouth can be much more serious than is often thought, and go beyond aesthetics. Therefore, from Ahoa we recommend first of all to smokers to seek professional help to quit smoking and, in any case, to visit their trusted dentist frequently, every 6 months, to assess the health status of your mouth, especially the soft tissues (tongue, floor of the mouth, lips and soft palate). Even if you do not have obvious symptoms of any problem, keep in mind that many times diseases of the mouth are called “silent”.