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Tobacco has many undesirable effects on your body, including your teeth. Excessive tobacco consumption may damage your teeth in more than one ways. Smoking or chewing tobacco can result in to severe afflictions such as oral cancer.
Chewing tobacco in particular is most harmful for your teeth and basic dental hygiene. Some of the conditions that a tobacco user may experience with regards to dental health include:
* Bad breath
* Discolored teeth
* Decreases ability to smell and taste.
* Increased chance of cavity formation.
* Snuff- the finely ground form of tobacco, can slowly eat away at the gums and lead to exposed teeth roots. Teeth roots are extremely sensitive to both- hot and cold temperatures and upon exposure to either; can cause severe pain.
* The sugar present in chewing tobacco can also cause tooth decay.
* Long term use of tobacco may lead to serious ailment such as oral cancer. If you fall into this category, do keep a lookout for any white patches along your cheek or any other part of the mouth. Any ulcer which refuses to go away over a significant period of time or a noticeable decrease in the opening of the mouth can also be indicative of the condition. In such cases, seek a doctor's attention right away.
Cosmetic changes to the teeth caused by tobacco
You may truly enjoy your megawatt smile or consider it your very best feature. But, if you've been chewing tobacco or even inhaling it, chances are that you won't have anything to smile about in the near future.
Tobacco makes the gum pull away from the teeth, exposing the roots. If this happens enough, it may cause your teeth to fall out after loosening up. Gum disease is also a bi-product of tobacco smoking.
If you've been using braces for teeth correction, it may not work out as planned with excessive tobacco use. The gums and bones which surround your teeth require adequate blood flow to ease biologic teeth movement. Tobacco may decrease the blood flow to these areas, making it a difficult process.
The yellow staining that is often a mark of tobacco use may further detract from the power of your smile and further contribute to bad breath. What's more, your cheeks and lips may be marred by the appearance of whitish patches of ripples or leathery consistency as well as unsightly sores.
A root canal may be the only way to deal with the problems caused by tobacco to your teeth. However, in severe cases, it may be nearly impossible to save the tooth at all. Therefore, if you value your dental health and your super smile, stay away from tobacco and all its repercussions.
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