How does smoking affect oral health?
Smoking is one of the main causes of many dental problems, as it increases the incidence of gum diseases, tooth decay, oral cancer, tooth loss, halitosis, and tooth discoloration.
How does smoking increase gum disease?
Tobacco use affects gum health by affecting the bone and soft tissue in the teeth, in addition, it leads to decreased blood flow to the gum which delays wound healing and causes plaque accumulation. Smoking may be the reason for these signs and symptoms of gum health by causing redness, bleeding, increased sensitivity, and pain during chewing.
Smoking leads to bad breath
Smoking is the main reason for halitosis (bad breath) as it causes decreased oxygen levels in the mouth and decreased saliva production which results in mouth dryness and it keeps the cigarette compounds in the mouth and throat, making it harder to get rid of bad breath.
As well as, cigarettes contain 600 different chemical compounds that cause oral problems and bad breath.
How to get rid of tobacco bad breath
Maintaining your oral health will decrease tobacco’s effect! Here are 5 tips to get rid of tobacco bad breath:
- Maintain your oral hygiene by brushing your teeth regularly
As tobacco contains ingredients that stay in your mouth, that’s why maintaining your oral hygiene through brushing at least twice a day, can help in minimizing bad breath problems. Also, it decreases tooth discoloration that results from tobacco use.
- Drink water and stay hydrated
Saliva secretions are important to flush the mouth from food and particles that stick to your teeth and gum. That’s why drinking enough water during the day enhances saliva production and reduces mouth bacteria formation.
- Chew sugarless gum
If you eat or drink anything, and you’re out and cant brush your teeth, you can chew sugarless gum for about 5 minutes to enhance saliva production, which can help in removing stuck food particles that may be the reason for bad breath.
- Treat any dental problem you have
Several dental health issues cause bad odor and enhance bacteria formation, and if left untreated, it may exacerbate the problem.
- Try to quit smoking
As tobacco is the main reason for poor breath, try to stop smoking to improve your oral health and to get rid of bad breath. Regardless of how long you have used tobacco products, quitting will help in reducing many dental problems, also it is very important for people who smoke to visit their dentists to maintain their oral health.
