Although some people underestimate just how damaging tobacco products can be to the smile, there is a reason cigarette packages are covered in serious warnings. Here are three ways smoking can impact your overall dental care, and why you should consider stopping as soon as possible. 

How Smoking Can Impact Your Smile

1. Coating the Teeth In Tar & Chemicals 

Cigarettes contain more than 7,000 chemicals including tar, arsenic, and formaldehyde. When you smoke, you are coating your teeth in these dangerous substances, which can impact your oral health. In addition to yellowing your teeth, these chemicals can also make it more difficult for your mouth to fight off infection, leading to dental care issues like tooth decay and abscesses. 

2. Impacting Blood Flow to Oral Tissues

The temperature changes experienced when smoking can also thicken the tissues of your mouth, reducing blood and salivary flow. When salivary flow is reduced, the mouth can have a more difficult time cleaning itself, leading to bad breath, cavities, and even periodontal disease. 

3. Contributing to Oral Decay

Smoking also contributes to tooth decay and tooth loss by creating an environment where bacteria can thrive. Because smoking can also contribute to plaque and tartar development, smokers experience twice the amount of tooth loss as non-smokers do. Furthermore, tooth replacement from modern techniques like dental implants aren’t always possible for smokers, since the habit impacts the ability of the body to heal. 

Whether you have smoked for years or you have recently started focusing on stopping the habit, Ronald W. Ristow DDS LLC in Oconto Falls, WI, can help you to understand how smoking can impact your oral health. As a dental care specialist who can help with everything from routine cleanings to full-smile restorations, this dentist will work hard to help you to regain control over your oral health. To learn more, visit Dr. Ristow’s website or call (920) 846-3163 to schedule a dental care appointment.