News

Smoking and your Oral Health

Smokers lose an average of 14 years of life due to their habit. Common oral side effects of smoking are: yellow teeth, bad breath, inflammation of the palate (“smoker’s palate”), increased likelihood of calculus, increased risk of periodontal disease, gum recession, tooth loss, black hairy tongue, cancer, oral lesions, loss of taste, less success with periodontal therapy, and less success with dental implants. The best way to avoid these side effects is to quit using all kinds of tobacco. With that said, we are aware that nicotine is an addictive substance and quitting isn’t always easy, but it really is necessary for both your oral and your general health.

Every patient who is a smoker should have more frequent recare visits. Simply put, that means you should be seen in our office every 3 months for a professional dental cleaning, examination, and oral cancer screening. In between visits you should be evaluating your mouth (including your tongue) for red sores, bumps, and lesions (lesions may be white, red, or dark and should not last for more than two weeks). Evaluate your head and neck and look for any bumps or lumps. If you see anything unusual or suspicious it is extremely important you call our office to have the lesion or area evaluated by Dr. Hopgood.

Periodontal disease and tooth loss are far worse for patients who smoke. It is estimated that smokers are 4 times more likely to have periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is sadly a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Periodontal disease, also referred to as "gum disease" by many, is a chronic infection of the gum tissues caused by the bacteria found in the oral cavity. The early stages of this disease can be identified by inflammation of the gum tissues (gingivitis) and may not be painful until it reaches a more critical stage. As the disease progresses, the inflammation travels to the deeper tissues and begins to destroy the bone and gum tissue that supports the teeth. If left untreated, bone loss can continue until ultimately, the teeth are lost. Periodontal disease is one of the major causes of tooth loss in adults and has recently been tied to several other serious systemic maladies including some forms of heart disease. It is imperative that smokers brush and floss their teeth two times a day and if you chew “dip” or “snuff”, it is extremely important that you remember to brush the area where you placed the tobacco before bedtime, and rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash.

Approximately 40,000 new cases of oral cancer are reported annually in the United States, and cause nearly 9,000 deaths annually. Men are twice as likely as women to develop the disease and it is most common in patients who are over 45 years of age. The tongue is the most frequent source of cancer in the mouth, followed by the floor of the mouth, soft palate tissues, the back of the tongue, lips, and gums. The risk of oral cancer increases six times with tobacco and 15 times when tobacco and alcohol use are combined. Because red, white, or discolored lesions, or lumps in or around the mouth may not be painful in the beginning stages, oral cancer is usually not diagnosed early and has the worst five-year survival rate at 54%

There are many things you can try in order to win the battle against tobacco. Almost all major retail stores and pharmacies carry nicotine gums, patches, and other cessation items. There are online support groups such as www.quitnet.org; www.quitsmokingsupport.com, and www.trytostop.org, telephone support is also available. To schedule an appointment or to address any questions you have about smoking and your oral health, feel free to call Dr. Hopgood at 978-475-2431.

*Dr. Hopgood does not endorse any of the smoking cessation programs listed above*

Advanced Dental Concepts
Richard D. Hopgood D.M.D., M.A.G.D.
296 Lowell Street
Andover, MA 01810
Telephone: 978-475-2431
Email: info@andoverdmd.com