All-Time Low for Smoking: Why that makes Oral Health happier and healthier.

(11/08/18 USA Today) A new report from the Centers  for Disease Control and Prevention, the FDA, and the National Cancer Institute indicates cigarette smoking has reached an all-time low. About 14% of adults (around 34 million people) smoked within the past 30 days. That is down from 15.5% in 2016. Only 10% of people aged 18-24 years smoked cigarettes in 2017; down from 13% in 2016.

Smoking is bad for your health in every way, so it’s no surprise that it is also harmful for your oral health. Some of the ways it can impact your oral health include:

  • Stained teeth and tongue
  • Dulled sense of taste and smell
  • Slow healing after tooth extraction or oral surgery
  • Gum disease (gingivitis and periodontal disease)
  • Oral cancer
  • Tooth Loss
  • Mouth Sores

The best way to cut down on these risks is to quit smoking cigarettes. We offer different helplines for quitting and also more information on what the effects of nicotine can do for oral health. If you have quit or are in the process of it and you are unhappy with the aesthetics or health of your teeth you can always give us a call so we can assess what needs to be done (i.e. whitening, tooth restorations, periodontal health assessment). It’s good to have a great support network surrounding you through the addiction of nicotine and we are here to help.