The focus of World No Tobacco Day 2019 is on “tobacco and lung health.”

This annual campaign raises awareness of the harmful and deadly effects of the use of tobacco of any kind.

This year, World No Tobacco Day is on May 31, and at Cardiff Dental we are happy to increase awareness of the day and strongly urge our patients who use tobacco (in any form!), to quit.

Let’s examine what smoking can do to your oral health, and remember that most of what we say here applies to ANY use of any tobacco product!

Tobacco Smoking

Tobacco smoking is Australia’s most preventable cause of illness and death. Smoking harms your health, and the mouth is particularly vulnerable.

Smoking leads to bad breath, stained teeth, reduced ability to taste, and damage to the gums.

Quitting smoking reduces the risk of oral cancer and gum disease. Let’s take a closer look at some of the problems.

Stained teeth – smoking stains teeth, white fillings, veneers, and dentures.

Smoker’s breath – Tobacco is one of the leading causes of bad breath as it increases the risk of calculus (tartar) build-up, which can lead to bad breath.

Decreased taste – Smoking leaves a paste of byproducts that stick to the surfaces in your mouth, impeding the work of taste buds.

Also, your sense of smell may be decreased. Luckily, these effects begin to fade only 48 hours after your last cigarette.

Gum disease – Smokers can be six times more likely to develop gum disease than non-smokers. Gum disease harms gums, bones, and the tissues that support teeth.

Healthy gums are firm and pink, as their circulation carries nutrients and oxygen to the gums while removing waste products.

Oral cancer – Most of us know that smoking can cause cancer of the throat and lungs, but it is also the leading cause of oral cancer, accounting for 3% of all cancers diagnosed in Australia.

The risk of cancer increases with the number of cigarettes smoked and how long people have had a smoking habit.

Problems after dental treatment – Smoking can cause all kinds of complications including slowed healing after gum disease treatment, complications after a tooth extraction, and even failure of dental implants.

Protect your health from the dangers of tobacco

Follow these three steps to protect your oral health:

• Stop using tobacco: Your risk of oral health issues decreases drastically if you quit. A decade after you have quit, your risk for gum disease approaches that of a person who has never used tobacco. If you would like help, talk to us at Cardiff Dental, and we can suggest support treatments.
• See your Cardiff Dental dentist regularly: Regular check-ups by your dentist Cardiff are a great way to catch oral cancer early. Any mouth ulcers you may be are concerned about can be checked by having a biopsy and receive a diagnosis.
• Brush and floss correctly: People who smoke or use tobacco need to be particularly careful about brushing and flossing, and if you have any questions about your technique, Cardiff Dental is happy to help!

How to Protect your Teeth

Quit. This is possibly the most significant benefit you can give your oral health.

However, it is difficult to quit, and while you are stopping, there are techniques you can use to reduce tobacco’s effects:

• Smoke fewer cigarettes
• Drink plenty of water
• Drink less alcohol
•  Follow good oral hygiene habits by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily
• Book a check-up and clean at Cardiff Dental – the check-up can help catch any problems early

Cardiff Dental is proud to support World No Tobacco Day and help spread awareness of the relationship between tobacco usage and decreased oral and overall health.

Quitting the use of tobacco products, smoked and otherwise, can immediately improve your oral and overall health levels.

Quitting smoking means cutting the cycle of addiction and essentially rewiring the brain to stop desiring for nicotine.

To be successful, smokers that want to stop need to have a strategy in place to fight cravings and triggers.

The benefits of smoking cessation begin in as soon as 1 hour following the last cigarette.

The earlier a smoker quits, the faster they will reduce their risk of oral cancer, heart and lung disease, and other conditions related to smoking.

If you are experiencing any oral health concerns due to smoking or the use of tobacco, or if you want help figuring out how to quit, contact the friendly Cardiff Dental team today!

Cardiff Dental is:

• A comprehensive family, cosmetic, and implant dentist Cardiff
• A locally owned family run dental practice
• At Cardiff, you can see the same dentist every time
• Available to treat severe conditions on the same Day
• Cardiff Dental is one of the few dental practices accredited by QIP (Quality Innovative Performance) for meeting the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards

Contact us today on (02) 4954 6888 or book your appointment online. For more information, go to our contact us page.

We look forward to seeing you soon.