How Tobacco Products Harm Gum Health

Do you smoke or vape? Do you use smokeless tobacco products? In addition to stained teeth and bad breath, these products could lead to cancer and the risk of advanced gum disease. Which is why your Encinitas/San Diego, CA, periodontist recommends quitting right away!

The Dangers of Smoking and Other Tobacco Products

When you smoke cigarettes, vape, or use smokeless tobacco products, this could expose your body to a plethora of harmful chemicals, including agents that cause cancer. Your risk of oral cancer, or cancer of the mouth, throat, and lungs, is increased significantly. You could also develop systemic diseases like emphysema. Many of the chemicals are found in products like nail polish remover, rat poison, embalming fluid, and road paving. Along with the serious risks posed by carcinogens, you’re also more likely to develop stained teeth and halitosis too.

The Link to Periodontitis

How does using tobacco products impact your gum health? The use of these products could increase the risk of periodontitis, the advanced stage of gum disease. This stage could mean serious recession that makes your teeth appear long, and also redness and soreness. The risk of tooth loss is higher too, so the stability of your smile is threatened. Which is why we recommend quitting today! If you need help with quitting, our team would love to discuss plans and provide materials to help with this journey. We want you to enjoy good oral health and avoid concerns like tooth loss. We also want to help you avoid the onset of cancers that could threaten your overall health and shorten your lifespan.

Signs of Gum Disease

As we mentioned above, the disease could cause the tissues to recede and uncover portions of your teeth, increasing the risk of not only tooth loss, but painful decay and infection too. You should also take note if your gums appear sore, look redder than usual, or swell. At this point, you need treatment to avoid the onset of periodontitis and the risk of tooth loss. Our team can discuss treatments using advanced lasers to make this possible, so we can remove diseased tissues and allow healthy ones to adhere to the teeth, and to correct gum recession so your smile is healthier and looks better too.

If you have any questions about quitting smoking, or about treating your periodontal concerns, then contact our team today to learn more.

Talk To Your Encinitas/San Diego, CA Periodontist About Avoiding Tobacco Use

By avoiding these products, you can help protect your smile and your overall health, keeping your smile whole and healthy! If you would like to find out more about quitting smoking and using smokeless products, call Dr. Kania’s office in Encinitas/San Diego, CA, at (760) 642-0711.