Smoking is not suitable for your oral health and the entire body. In different parts of the world, much money is spent on campaigns against tobacco. The campaigns target mainly the youths, sensitizing them to the effects of smoking. In California, TobaccoFreeCA is the dominant campaign. Smoking is highly addictive, and for most smokers, the assumed risks of continuing smoking exceed the pain of stopping the habit. If you are a smoker and have dental issues, you should consult a skilled dentist because smoking causes serious harm to teeth and entire oral health.

Most people ask: Is smoking bad for my teeth? Smoking can have detrimental impacts on the teeth. Here are some of the leading reasons why smoking is bad for your teeth:

Gum Disease 

You are at a higher risk of suffering from gum disease if you smoke. Also known as periodontal disease, gum disease is caused by an infection that damages the bone surrounding and supporting the teeth. These bones hold the teeth to the jawbone to enable you to chew food. People who smoke often develop plaque on their teeth. The plaque can harden to form tartar or calculus if left on teeth and gums for long. Calculus and plaque can irritate the gums surrounding the teeth.

Gingivitis and periodontitis are the two stages of gum disease. If periodontitis is not treated, the structures that hold the tooth to the gum can become damaged. The teeth can become loose and fall out by themselves.

The risk of suffering gum disease increases if you are a heavy smoker. You are still at risk of suffering from gum disease even if you smoke a few cigarettes per day, compared to a person who does not smoke. Additionally, you can suffer the following if you smoke:

  • Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis which is a painful condition that causes a terrible smell and taste
  • Loss of teeth, making it hard for you to have the confidence to smile or speak clearly

Stomatitis Nicotina (Smoker's Keratosis)

Stomatitis nicotina is characterized by a diffuse white patch on the hard palate. This disease is caused by tobacco smoking, especially cigar or pipe smoking. It results from a painless response of the palatal oral mucosa to chronic heat. A noticeable appearance can result from "reverse smoking." Reverse smoking is where the burnt end of a hand-rolled tobacco leaf is inserted in the mouth instead of the unlit end of the cigar. Studies suggest that reverse smoking is common among women, while conventional smoking is prevalent among men. The condition that results from reverse smoking carries an increased risk of transformation to oral cancer. Stomatitis nicotina, caused by heat, does not carry a higher risk of leading to oral cancer.

Thermally-induced keratosis is believed to be the cause of nicotine stomatitis. The ingredients or chemicals in the tobacco can act as irritants to nicotine stomatitis. This condition can also be caused by chronic heat exposure. Smoking pipes release more heat on the palate than any other form of smoking. The frequency of smoking determines the severity of the changes.

Nicotine stomatitis can be discovered through routine mouth examinations because it does not show any symptoms. Sometimes, this disease can exhibit mild irritation. Initially, you can experience redness of the hard palate and sometimes the adjacent soft palate, and the palate can turn white with time. The palate can also have a cracked appearance likened to dried mud. There can also be many scattered red dots. The red dots are the inflamed duct openings of minor salivary glands.

Dry Socket

Also known as "poor healing after tooth removal," a dry socket is a painful dental condition after a tooth is removed. It occurs when a blood clot in the extraction area fails to form, dissolves, or falls off before the wound has healed.

A blood clot usually forms at the area where the tooth is extracted. The blood clot is a layer that protects the underlying bone and nerve endings in the empty tooth socket. The blood clot also contains cells that are important for the proper healing of the area. You can experience intense pain when the underlying bones and nerves are exposed. Typically, you will feel pain in the socket and along the nerves to the side of the face. The socket becomes irritated and swollen.

Smoking and tobacco use increase the risk of developing dry sockets. Chemicals in cigarettes and other forms of tobacco can hinder or slow the healing when the substances enter the tooth extraction site. A blood clot can also come out too early because of sucking on a cigarette.

Bad Breath Or Halitosis

Most smokers suffer from malodorous breath, but heavy smokers are most frequently affected. Smokers also experience a "deterioration in olfactory sensitivity. Cigarette smoke can cause halitosis through hyposalivation, the formation of dental caries, and periodontal diseases. These reduce the commensal population in the oral cavity and enhance the acquisition and colonization of periodontal pathogens. This results in oral dysbiosis that can turn to intraoral halitosis.

Research reveals that smoking can cause a substantial imbalance in the oral microbiome, leading to bad breath. Some components of tobacco combustion can be absorbed into the blood through the lung alveoli or oral mucosa. These components can then be breathed out, leading to strong bad breath.

Loss of Taste

Smoking cigarettes can cause significant harm to your organs. Heavy smoking damages a person's sense of smell and taste. Smoking many cigarettes a day causes a serious taste impairment. The quantity of cigarettes consumed distinctively affects the nerve endings that mediate taste and smell. They usually occur in the nerve fibers and receptors or cells associated with the senses. Smoking and poor diet also lead to a deficiency of vitamin B1. This can damage the central brain region, essential for taste and memory.

Black Hairy Tongue

Black hairy tongue results from fungi or bacteria in the mouth that make the tongue appear hairy and black. Bacteria can develop on tiny  projections known as papillae. The papillae lie along the tongue’s surface. When the papillae grow and lengthen, they create hair-like projections instead of shedding as usual. The projections can grow 15 times more than their normal length, making you develop a black, hairy tongue.

Most people with black, hairy tongues do not have any feelings or symptoms of discomfort. However, you can feel a burning sensation on the tongue when there is too much growth of bacteria. The burning sensation is known as glossopyrosis. Some individuals can experience an itchy feeling in the back of the roof of the mouth, nausea, and a metallic taste in their mouth.

Mouth Cancer

Smoking cigarettes is a risk factor for oral cancer. Oral cancer includes cancers of the throat, sinuses, hard and soft palate, floor of the mouth, cheeks, tongue, and lips. More men suffer oral cancer than women. Men aged 40 years or more are at high risk for mouth cancer if they use tobacco. The majority of people who use tobacco suffer from oral cancer more than nonsmokers.

Removing cancerous growths from your mouth can affect your appearance. It can affect your ability to speak, eat, or swallow. You can develop a second cancer if you have cancer and continue smoking. Some of the symptoms of oral cancer include:

  • Change in voice
  • Persistent bad breath
  • Mass or lump in the neck
  • Unintentional weight loss
  • Loosening of the teeth or pain around the jaw or teeth
  • Swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable
  • Numbness of the tongue or other area of the mouth
  • Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue
  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing, sore throat, or a feeling that something is caught in the throat that does not go away
  • Persistent red or white patches on the gums, tongue, tonsil, or mouth lining
  • Persistent lump or thickening in the cheek
  • Pain in the mouth that does not go away
  • Sore in the mouth that does not heal

E-Cigarettes and E-Liquids (Vaping)

E-cigarettes, or electronic cigarettes, are similar to smoking, but they do not burn tobacco. A cigarette is typically a battery-powered device that works by heating liquid into an aerosol, which is then inhaled into the lungs. Sometimes, people smoke using an e-cigarette, known as "vaping."

E-liquid is the liquid used inside an e-cigarette. This liquid is also known as vape juice or e-juice. E-liquid can contain vegetable glycerol or glycerin, propylene, and other chemicals, including those used to create flavors. It can also contain nicotine and water in some cases. Unfortunately, the ingredients in e-liquid products can not be labeled accurately or thoroughly. There is no assurance that an e-liquid labeled "non-nicotine" does not have nicotine. It is also not easy to know whether other chemicals are contained in the e-liquid.

If e-liquid contains nicotine, it can cause problems in your mouth. The long-term effects of e-cigarettes are not known, but research shows that they can cause inflammation in your mouth. This can lead to gum disease and other oral health problems. Some people can suffer a temporary loss of taste known as vape tongue.

Most people believe that vaping is one of the ways to quit smoking. However, vaping can make it hard for you to stop smoking completely. This can increase your risk of suffering diseases related to tobacco use, like mouth cancer.

Other effects of inhaling vapor from e-liquids used in e-cigarettes can include:

  • Poisoning and even death when swallowed
  • Particulate matter produced by e-cigarettes can be harmful to those who inhale because it causes asthma and heart disease

Whether Smoking Hookah Is Safe

Most smokers think that using hookah water pipes is a safe option for cigarettes because the smoke goes through water before it is inhaled. Unfortunately, the water does not remove any toxins. Hookah is not safe because it contains chemicals, tar, nicotine, and heavy metals in higher concentrations than those in cigarette smoke. It carries the same or potentially more negative health outcomes as smoking cigarettes. Similarly, hookah is usually used in groups with one mouthpiece being passed around. This act enhances the risk of contracting contagious diseases.

Indirect Smoking And Its Effects

Indirect smoking can include:

Secondhand And Thirdhand Smoking

Secondhand smoking involves inhaling smoke from a burning tobacco product. It also involves inhaling smoke breathed out by a smoker. Secondhand smoke has similar chemicals in smoked tobacco, like hookah, pipes, cigars, and cigarettes. These chemicals can be inhaled by any person near you, including children, family, friends, and pets. It is not safe to expose yourself to secondhand smoke.

Secondhand smoke will not directly impact your teeth but can cause other medical conditions. These medical conditions will eventually affect your teeth. You can develop breathing issues like coughing and wheezing if you inhale secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke can negatively impact your heart and blood vessels. You can also suffer other serious health problems like stroke, heart disease, and lung cancer. Inhaling secondhand smoke can cause children to suffer ear infections, sneezing, coughing, and asthma attacks. It also increases the risks of developing pneumonia and bronchitis in children. Secondhand smoke is deadly because many adults die each year in the United States.

Third-hand smoking involves inhaling tobacco that sticks to the furniture, carpet, walls, or other objects. When a person smokes tobacco, the air will be filled with smoke that creates a brief fog-like appearance. Once the smoke settles and clears, tobacco chemicals and nicotine can remain clinging on surfaces like toys, the fur of pets, blankets, and skin. The chemicals can react with other things in the air, resulting in harmful substances for people's health, including children, tobacco users, and nonsmokers.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Effects Of Smoking On The Teeth

The following are commonly asked questions about the effects of smoking on the teeth:

How Can I Remove Smoking Stains From My Teeth?

The tar and nicotine in cigarettes can cause stained or yellowish teeth. You can improve your teeth' appearance by brushing them several times daily. Proper oral hygiene will not only prevent staining but can also prevent gum disease. Go for a toothpaste designed to fight stains in smokers. These toothpastes contain several ingredients to help with discoloration. If you have stained teeth from smoking, contact a dentist to discuss professional teeth whitening.

Why Do Smokers Often Require Tooth Extraction?

There are several reasons why smokers often require tooth extraction, including being at higher risk of contracting periodontal disease like gingivitis. Smoking causes gum inflammation that, in turn, increases the production of "cytokines." Cytokines can cause periodontal disease that can necessitate a tooth extraction.

Wisdom teeth are also another reason for teeth extraction because they are difficult to brush. In this case, bacteria can quickly build up. Smoking typically adds nicotine to the bacteria, leading to decay or damage that cannot be repaired. Tobacco use can also lead to advanced tooth decay. You will require tooth extraction if the tooth decay is bad enough. You risk damaging the surrounding teeth, gums, and mouth if a tooth with extensive decay is not removed.

When Can I Smoke After Tooth Extraction?

If you must smoke after a tooth extraction, you will have to wait for three days or 72 hours after a tooth extraction to smoke. This period helps to reduce dry sockets or poor healing after tooth removal. Blood clots take time to form when the tooth is extracted. Therefore, waiting for three days gives the clot ample time to form so that healing can occur. Waiting for longer is also advisable because it will give your body sufficient time to heal. Avoid smoking until your gums start to heal. Try to rinse your mouth with warm salt water after each time you smoke if you cannot wait for the entire three days.

Can I Smoke With A Gauze After A Tooth Extraction?

It is not advisable to smoke with a gauze after a tooth extraction. It is recommended that you wait for at least 48 to 72 hours. However, you must also consult your dentist on how long you should wait. Your dentist can put a sterile gauze where the tooth was removed. The gauze helps to reduce the pressure on the wound. The gauze would protect the wound in the following ways:

  • Reduce pressure on the wound, making the blood clot unlikely to dislodge or cause a dry socket
  • Cushions the wound against some smoke

The procedure of putting a gauze is as follows:

  • Prepare strips of gauze for every extracted area and put the gauze in cool water
  • Put the gauze gently over the extracted area
  • Gently seal the extraction area by biting down on the gauze and avoiding gritting your teeth
  • Gently inhale the cigarette with as little suction as possible

Is It Healthy If I Roll My Own Cigarettes?

Hand-rolled cigarettes are as harmful as those from off the shelf. People who smoke hand-rolled cigarettes have a higher risk of cancer than those who smoke cigarettes that are made by machines. The use of filters in hand-rolled cigarettes and the paper used in hand-rolled cigarettes differ. You can inhale more smoke, and tobacco rolling can have more additives than pre-made cigarettes.

Find a Aliso Viejo Dentist Near Me

Understanding the negative impacts of smoking can help you quit the habit. If you have stained teeth, tooth decay, periodontitis, or other oral issues resulting from smoking, all is not lost. With the help of an experienced dentist, you can salvage your teeth. A dentist can also advise you on the best tips to help you quit smoking. If you need reliable dental services, contact South Coast Dentistry. Contact us at 949-360-1021 to speak to one of our Aliso Viejo dentists.