How Smoking Harms Your Gums

When you smoke or use other tobacco products, even vaping, you expose your smile to a host of harmful chemicals, leaving you vulnerable to multiple forms of cancer. Which is why we urge our patients to quit, and why your Encinitas/San Diego, CA, periodontist wants to help!

Tobacco Products and Periodontal Health

When we smoke cigarettes or use smokeless tobacco products, we expose our body to a number of harmful chemicals. These can lead to irritation and inflammation in the periodontal tissues. If you have gingivitis or periodontal disease, this can increase the severity of the issue and leave you more vulnerable to the later stage known as periodontitis. At this stage, the tissues connecting your teeth and gums are severed, and your underlying bone structure can weaken as well. You then lose your natural teeth and develop an older appearance as a result. Don’t risk painful symptoms in the gums or the onset of adult tooth loss, stop using tobacco products to help protect your overall oral health. Aside from cancer, the use of these products also increases the risk of bad breath and serious teeth stains!

Cancer Risk

When you use tobacco products, this can increase the risk of lung cancer, emphysema, and more. You also have an increased risk of oral cancer. With oral cancer, over 53,000 people are diagnosed each year and of that number, half will succumb to the disease in as little as five years. The high mortality rate is due to the fact that the disease is rarely diagnosed in the early stages. Don’t risk the onset of cancer, talk to our team about options to help you quit. Some people prefer cold turkey, while others benefit from patches and other options to gradually wean them from their nicotine addiction. There are multiple strategies you can try to kick the habit!

Protecting Your Gums

Along with avoiding the use of cigarettes and similar products, you can help protect your gums with better oral hygiene habits. For example, be sure you brush and floss daily, cut back on the amount of sugar and starch in your diet, and of course, see our team if you notice your gums look red, feel sore, or bleed easily. If you have any questions about how to quit or about protecting your periodontal health, then please reach out to our team today! We want to help you enjoy healthy and beautiful smiles.

Talk to Dr. Kania About Quitting Tobacco

By avoiding cigarettes and other products, you can safeguard the health and stability of your smile. To learn more about protecting your gums or to schedule your appointment, give us a call at our office in Encinitas, CA today at 760-642-0711.