November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and yesterday marked the Great American Smokeout! According to the ADA, tobacco use is one of the leading causes of preventable illness in the US with smoking accounting for approximately 20% of deaths. Don’t become a statistic…Now is the time to kick the habit to the curb!
Tobacco use and its ill effects are not limited to just smoking cigarettes. There’s also smokeless tobacco such as chewing/dipping. All forms of tobacco use come with serious consequences for your oral health.
Chewing/Dipping: Pretty self-explanatory, this consists of placing pieces of tobacco between the cheek and gum, or the upper lip and teeth, and chewing it to release the flavor and nicotine. Also known as “dip” or “snuff”, chewing tobacco comes in a variety of flavors and consistencies. Toxic juices are created from chewing the tobacco, which not only increase your risk for oral cancer, but also cancer of the mouth, esophagus, throat, and voice box.
Smoking: Tobacco can be smoked via cigarette, cigar, or pipe. Not one smoking tool is safer than the next. Aside from the many bad side effects to your oral health, such as oral cancer and gum disease, lung cancer is a primary concern for smokers. At the least, smoking can leave you short of breath and hacking your lungs out with a “smoker’s cough”.
Toxicity of Tobacco
There are absolutely no benefits of using tobacco. The CDC notes that smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to develop heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. Tobacco contains hundreds of harmful chemicals, and the longer your body is exposed to these substances, the higher the risk of developing health problems or suffering the deadly consequences.
While we could go on and on about the detrimental side effects of tobacco, let’s focus on what it does to your oral health.
- Bad Breath: No matter how many breath mints you eat, masking the smell of tobacco is a challenge. It’s hard to hide your habit because the smell is so offensive, especially to nonsmokers. Tobacco and other chemicals can linger in the mouth long after getting your fix. Keep in mind that smoking also dries out your mouth, which can make the stench even worse.
- Chronic Cough: A smoker’s cough is also another hard side effect to hide, as it can become persistent with increased tobacco use. This is the body’s response to clearing out the chemicals that enter the airways and lungs. The hallmark of a smoker’s cough is a dry, wheezy, and crackly sound. Sometimes the cough can coincide with difficulty breathing.
- Dry Mouth: Smoking stalls saliva production, which dries out the mouth. Dry mouth can lead to oral health problems like an increase in plaque buildup, leading to tooth decay.
- Gum Disease: Many smokers experience excess bacterial plaque, which is a contributing factor for gum disease. Smoking also weakens your immune system and causes a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream, which can affect the healing of infected gums.
- Oral Cancer: Tobacco use is one of the greatest risk factors for oral cancer. Cancer is caused by the mutation of healthy cells. It’s believed that repetitive exposure to the harmful components of tobacco can cause changes to the oral cavity, which can eventually progress to oral cancer.
- Staining: Tobacco can produce some stubborn stains on teeth, ranging in color from yellow to brown to gray. Nicotine and tar found in tobacco seep into the pores of the teeth and cause discoloration. The gums and tongue are also susceptible to staining.
- Wear and Tear: Smokeless tobacco, such as chewing tobacco, is particularly destructive to teeth. This form of tobacco is a gritty substance that when chewed over time can cause tooth erosion and sensitivity.
The Addiction is Real
There is no doubt that tobacco is highly addictive. Thanks a lot, nicotine! Delta Dental says there are four aspects to nicotine addiction: physical, sensory, psychological, and behavioral. It’s a vicious cycle and can lead to serious withdrawal symptoms.
[PHOTO CREDIT: Delta Dental]
Quitting is for Winners
If you can quit your tobacco habit, consider yourself a winner! Your mouth (and the rest of your body) will thank you forever. Kicking the habit to curb can take some hard work, but it’s worth every bit of effort. There’s no right way to quit using tobacco, just as long as you do it. Some people prefer cold turkey, while others rely on the nicotine patch.
Here are some tips for coping as you quit using tobacco:
- Chew gum – just make sure it’s sugarless
- Exercise – relieves stress and is a good distraction
- Therapy – talking to someone can help with the process
If you have any questions or concerns about tobacco use and your oral health, call us at 954-344-4488, or complete an online appointment request to schedule your consultation.