Protect Your Gums By Quitting Tobacco

Do you smoke cigarettes, or use smokeless tobacco products? Do you vape? If so, these items can impact the health of your smile and even threaten your overall health too. Which is why your Encinitas/San Diego, CA, periodontist wants you to protect your gums and reduce your risk of cancer by quitting tobacco products.

The Link Between Tobacco and Periodontitis

When you smoke cigarettes, vape, or use smokeless tobacco products, this could lead to an increased risk of periodontitis, the advanced stage of gum disease. You’re more likely to have receding tissues that make your teeth appear long and uneven, or suffer from bleeding and soreness. You could also be more likely to develop missing teeth too. In fact, periodontitis is the most common cause of adult tooth loss! Don’t let your smile suffer from tooth loss. Quit using these products right away, so you can preserve your natural teeth and avoid the risk of poor oral health.

The Cancer Risks

When you use tobacco products, you also expose your body to a number of very harmful ingredients, many of which are carcinogens, which can cause cancer. You can experience an increased risk of cancer in your mouth, throat, and lungs, as well as emphysema. These products contain acetone, also found in nail polish remover, and ammonia, a main ingredient in household cleaners. They also contain poisons like carbon monoxide. Your lungs could fill with tar. Did we mention formaldehyde? Yes, the same ingredients found in the embalming fluid used to preserve corpses. You also expose your body to a highly addictive ingredient known as nicotine, which gets you hooked, and polonium 210, a radioactive carcinogen.

Quit Today

We want to help preserve your overall health and keep your smile whole and healthy. If you have questions about quitting, or how to make this attempt stick then please reach out to us. Our team can talk about possible solutions. If you have quit in the past and feel embarrassed about starting your cigarette use again, don’t worry, as quitting is very difficult! But the results are rewarding. Healthy smiles, strong lungs, and prolonged life. If you have any questions about treating issues like periodontal disease, or about quitting tobacco products, then contact our team today to learn more.

Speak With Your Encinitas/San Diego, CA Periodontist About Avoiding Poor Oral Health

We want to make sure you’re taking action to protect your oral health, so you can smile with confidence for years to come. If you would like to find out more about reducing your risk of cancer and tooth loss by quitting or undergoing periodontal treatment, then please call Dr. Kania’s laser periodontal office in Encinitas/San Diego, CA, at (760) 642-0711.