It is common knowledge that tobacco use is bad for your health, but did you know that it plays a major role in many dental problems too? All forms of tobacco including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and smokeless tobacco pose oral health risks. The following list will give you an overview of concerns that dentists have for their patients who use tobacco.
Oral Cancer
Using tobacco greatly increases your risk of cancer of the mouth or throat. Oral cancer is a disease that progresses quickly and can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated early. Also, moderate to heavy use of alcohol combined with tobacco use increases the risk of oral cancer even more.
Gum Disease
Infected gum tissue causes the bone that supports the teeth to recede, which leads to loose teeth. Gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss and sensitivity in adults. Many tobacco users end up with gum disease problems.
Delayed Healing
Tobacco impairs your immune system, which means that healing happens more slowly. It will take longer for a tobacco user to heal after dental procedures such as tooth extraction, periodontal treatment, or oral surgery.
Diminished Senses
Most tobacco users experience a decrease in their senses of taste and smell. Tobacco smoke especially affects your senses. Food will not taste as good and you can’t smell as well as before.
Bad Breath and Stained Teeth
These are both very obvious cosmetic results of tobacco use. No one wants to go around smelling like an ashtray, and teeth stains caused by tobacco often cannot be removed with regular brushing.
Wisdom teeth got their name because they are the final teeth to develop, usually in the late teens to early twenties, at a time when a person becomes fully mature or “wise.” Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars in the very back of the mouth. Most people have four total (two upper and two lower), but others never develop them at all. Wisdom teeth can be a valuable chewing aid, but often they are poorly aligned or don’t develop properly.
How do I know if I have them?
Unless you start to feel them breaking through, you may not know whether you have wisdom teeth or not. Ask your dentist to examine you to see if these teeth are healthy and properly positioned. An x-ray may be required, and your dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon to be evaluated further.
Do wisdom teeth hurt?
You don’t always feel anything with your wisdom teeth, but sometimes they are very bothersome. You may experience pain when they erupt in awkward positions, especially if the teeth rub against your mouth. Other problems include stiffness in the area, infected swelling of the gums, tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth crowding.
Why remove them?
Your dentist or oral surgeon might suggest that your wisdom teeth be extracted. They can often predict if your wisdom teeth may crowd or damage other teeth, your jawbone, or nerves. Sometimes removal is appropriate before problems arise, in an effort to avoid more complicated or painful extractions later. Removal is usually simpler and less risky in young people. If your wisdom teeth are not extracted, it’s important for your dentist to continue monitoring them because problems may develop later.
What does impacted mean?
Wisdom teeth may be impacted, which means they are enclosed in the soft tissue or jawbone or they only partially erupt through the gum. Impacted wisdom teeth are almost always removed to avoid risks of infection, tooth decay, and gum disease.
While staying active is important to your overall health, you need to protect your mouth and face if you participate in sports activities. Most people don’t realize that 40 percent of all sports injuries involve the face. For the safety of yourself or a loved one, talk with your orthodontist about a mouth guard.
What is a mouth guard?
These plastic oral appliances can cover teeth and can prevent trauma during sports activities.
Do I really need a mouth guard?
Absolutely. Anyone who participates in events like basketball, soccer, football, and even skateboarding should wear mouth guards because they offer protection against damage to teeth, lips, gums, and other oral tissues. They also reduce the risk of concussion by 50 percent.
Are there different kinds of mouth guards?
Several types of mouth guards exist. Preformed and ready to wear, stock mouth devices are inexpensive, but offer little protection. Sold at sporting goods stores, boil and bite mouth guards provide a better fit than stock appliances. Tailored and fabricated to fit the individual, custom mouth guards are the most comfortable and offer the best coverage.
How do I care for my mouth guard?
After each use, make sure to rinse your appliance with cool water. You may want to use a soft toothbrush on it as well. Periodically, examine the mouth guard to look for any signs of wear. If you notice any problems and you have a custom appliance, bring it to your orthodontist for a professional check.
Though halitosis isn’t fatal, it can definitely hurt your personal and professional life. If you feel like you bad breath is affecting your ability to live life to the fullest, talk with your dentist. Most people suffer occasional bad breath, usually from something they eat or a head cold, but chronic halitosis may have other causes. Your dentist will find the root issue and determine the best way to eliminate your bad breath.
The following tidbits may provide useful suggestions as well:
Practice good hygiene
When you frequently brush and floss, you remove odor-causing bacteria from your mouth, preventing them from building up and creating bad breath.
Clean your whole mouth
Many people don’t realize that you should brush your tongue as well as teeth and gums. About half of the bacteria in your mouth live on the surface of your tongue, so you need to remove them to keep your breath smelling fresh.
Stay hydrated
Not only does H2O keep your body functioning properly, but it is also important for your mouth. Water rinses away plaque and food debris as well as keeping your mouth moist, which can reduce the occurrences of halitosis.
Take care of oral appliances
Retainers, aligners, and dentures can harbor bacteria and contribute to mouth odors if they aren’t cleaned. Wash these appliances regularly using a soft toothbrush and the cleaner recommended by your dental health provider.
Cut out tobacco use
On top of creating an increased risk of gum disease and oral cancer, smoking also dries out your mouth, which can make you prone to bad breath.
Protecting your smile is a lifelong job. With daily brushing, regular flossing, and routine checkups, your teeth and gums should stay healthy. Understanding the important facts about dental health can help you make the best decisions for your oral health.
True or False: Cavities are only a problem for children.
Answer: False. With the fluoridation of water and increase in dental care for kids, tooth decay in this age group has dropped. Unfortunately, the level of decay in older adults has risen; medication use, limited mobility, and chronic health issues are part of the reason for the increase.
True or False: Missing teeth don’t need to be replaced.
Answer: False. Even one lost teeth can create problems in your mouth. Remaining teeth can shift into the gap, causing misalignment. As well, you have an increased risk for additional tooth loss.
True or False: Dental implants are a good option for lost teeth.
Answer: True. Designed to look and function like your original teeth, dental implants are the closest prosthetic to nature. The implants are metal posted that a skilled surgeon places in your jawbone. After your mouth heals, your dentist will position a permanent crown on each post.
True or False: It’s normal for your teeth to bleed when you brush.
Answer: False. Just as bleeding somewhere on an extremity isn’t good, neither is bleeding in your mouth. If your gums bleed, it indicates some sort of problem, like brushing too aggressively or gum disease, so don’t ignore that symptom.
True or False: Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt.
Answer: True. Also called third molars, wisdom teeth usually come in during your late teens or early twenties.
Your teeth age right along with the rest of your body, so it’s a natural process for them to lose their whiteness and leave you wondering how to regain that youthful bright smile. Many dentists offer professional teeth whitening and stores sell at-home kits, but you should also try these techniques if you’re looking to maintain your brand-new pearly whites:
Treat your teeth right
Brush and floss your teeth carefully and regularly, and visit your dentist as scheduled to keep your teeth in good health.
Avoid foods that stain
Coffee, tea, cola, fruit juices, and red wine are some of the staining culprits because your teeth absorb colored liquids throughout your life. If you do drink dark beverages, sip them through a straw. Also, swishing water around your mouth for about 30 seconds after eating will help prevent stains.
Quit smoking
Tobacco of any kind can discolor your teeth, so either quit altogether or at least limit its use.
Eat crunchy foods
Try eating crunchy, crispy fruits and vegetables such as apples, carrots, and celery. The abrasiveness can help lift stains from your teeth.
Chew gum
Chewing gum increases the amount of saliva in your mouth, which is like a natural cleaner inside your mouth. Also, gum containing the sweetener xylitol may help prevent plaque.
Brush with baking soda
The abrasive elements in baking soda can polish your teeth, while the mixture of baking soda and water lightens stains. Dip your toothbrush in baking soda and brush with it once a week, or switch to a toothpaste that contains baking soda.
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