THE INFLUENCE OF SMOKING ON ORAL HEALTH

INTRODUCTION
Smoking is a significant lifestyle factor affecting not only systemic health but also the oral health. An estimated 27.9% of U.S. adults are current smokers and 23.3% are former smokers. The prevalence of smoking is higher in males (30.9%) as compared with females (25.1%).
Studies have reported that smokers have poorer periodontal conditions than non smokers and this makes as a major risk factor for periodontitis.


EFFECTS OF SMOKING ON ORAL HEALTH
Most people are aware that smoking is bad for their health. However, many people don't realise the damage that smoking does to their mouth, gums and teeth.
Well, the inflammation of gingiva in response to plaque accumulation is reduced in smokers as compared to non smokers. Studies have consistently demonstrated that smokers are present with less gingival inflammation than non smokers. Some studies also reported that smokers have less Bleeding On Probing than the non smokers.
Although gingival inflammation appears to be less in smokers... but smoking plays a major risk role for increasing the prevalence and severity of periodontal destruction. Increases pocket depth, attachment loss, alveolar bone loss are severe in patients who smoke compared with non smokers. On average, smokers are likely to be prone to have periodontitis four times than the persons who had never smoked.
Smoking can lead to tooth staining, gum disease, tooth loss, and in more severe cases mouth cancer.

OH NO! TEETH ARE GETTING STAINED ?
The nicotine and tar in the tobacco causes the staining of the teeth. It makes your teeth yellow in a very short time period of smoking and later on it turns the teeth almost brown.

LOOSENING OF TOOTH?
With reduction in pocket depth due to smoking there is also reduction of clinical attachment levels, increase in recession, increase incidence of bone loss. These all will lead to the tooth loss.

BAD BREATH? 
The most immediate way that smoking causes bad breath is by leaving smoke particles in the throat and lungs. This effect is typical of nearly any tobacco product that involves inhaling smoke or rolling it around in the mouth. The smell of a freshly smoked cigarette can linger in the lungs for hours, hence associated with the bad breath. The chemicals in tobacco smoke can remain in the mouth, leading to a host of secondary causes of bad breath.Reviews found that tobacco smoke contains more than 60 aromatic hydrocarbons, most of which are carcinogenic in addition to conveying a fragrance.

ORAL CANCER. IS THIS SCARY? 
Oral cancer is cancer of the mouth, including the tongue, cheek, palate, floor of the mouth and lips.Of people with oral cancer, 75 % are smokers. People who smoke 40 cigarettes per day and drink four alcoholic drinks per day are 35 times more likely to develop oral cancer than non-smokers and non-alcohol drinkers. The risk is much lower in people who only smoke or only drink alcohol.


So, IT IS IMPORTANT TO LOOK AFTER YOUR ORAL HEALTH.. 
STOP SMOKING, START LIVING! 

                             DR. ANJUSHA SHARDA

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