Nicotine is very addicting, and both cigarettes and vaping gadgets give it. Even though vaping might seem like a better choice than smoking, both can do a lot of damage to your teeth.
This article talks about how smoking and vaping are bad for your mouth and teeth and gives you tools that can help you quit. If you need a dentist in Westminster, you might want to check out Westminster Dentistry for any issues with your oral health that are caused by smoking or vaping.
Smoking and vaping can damage your smile.
When you smoke or vape, you put a lot of bad chemicals in your mouth. These chemicals can make your gums swell and hurt, which raises your risk of getting gum disease.
Gum disease is a very bad infection that can hurt the bone and soft tissue that hold your teeth in place. If gum disease gets bad enough, it can cause you to lose your teeth.
The effects of tobacco.
People who smoke are known to have problems with their oral health. The dangerous toxins in tobacco smoke can cause many problems, such as:
- Gum disease: Smoking makes you much more likely to get gum disease, which makes your gums swell and get infections. If you do not treat this, you could lose your tooth.
- Teeth decay: The bad chemicals in cigarette smoke can weaken tooth enamel, which makes teeth more likely to get cavities and decay.
- Oral cancer: Lots of people who smoke are more likely to get oral cancer, which is very dangerous and can affect the lips, tongue, cheeks, and throat.
- Bad breath: Smoking can give you bad breath that will not go away, which can make social situations less pleasant.
- Stained teeth: Cigarette tar and nicotine can darken teeth, turning them yellow or brown.
The hidden dangers of vaping.
Vaping is often sold as a better choice than smoking, but it can also be very bad for your oral health:
- Dry mouth: A lot of smoking products have ingredients that can make you salivate less, which can make your mouth feel dry. This might make tooth loss and gum disease more likely.
- Gum disease: Vaping may damage the gums, which can cause swelling and, eventually, gum disease.
- Tooth decay: Some vape liquids are acidic, which can wear away tooth enamel and leave teeth more open to decay.
- Addiction to nicotine: Nicotine is a highly addicting chemical that can be found in cigarettes and vape products. It can cause many health problems, including problems with your teeth.
Smoking and vaping increase your risk of getting oral cancer.
Oral cancer is more likely to happen if you smoke. This dangerous type of cancer can show up on your lips, tongue, cheeks, gums, or anywhere else in your mouth. More research needs to be done on smoking, but some studies show that it may also raise the risk of oral cancer.
Take charge of your oral health.
The good news is that giving up smoking or vaping will make your mouth health a lot better. You will be less likely to get gum disease after you quit because your gums will start to heal.
Also, problems will be less likely to happen in your teeth. You are also less likely to get oral cancer if you quit.
Resources to help you quit smoking and vaping.
It can be hard to stop smoking or vaping, but there are a lot of resources out there to help you do it. Talk to your doctor about making a plan to quit.
Plus, there are a lot of ways to replace nicotine, like patches, gum, and lozenges. These treatments can help you deal with urges and withdrawal effects.
Remember that a smile that is healthy looks great. There is a lot you can do to improve your health and your future by giving up smoking or vaping.
