Hey! I'm Frankie, and welcome to my dental advice blog. I'm a foodie and I love sweet treats, but I also love my teeth! It can be hard to keep your dental health in top condition when you've got a sweet tooth, but it's not impossible. Over the years, I've learned tons of great advice from friends, family members and dentists, and I'd love to share it with you. My blog is here to give you all the tips and tricks you need to stay free of decay and other tooth problems without giving up all your favourite foods and snacks.
Maintaining an acceptable standard of dental care is difficult for smokers. No matter how diligent you are when it comes to brushing and flossing, as well as your diet, you're still regularly consuming a carcinogenic substance that actively harms your oral health, and smoking will often gain the upper hand. When you stop smoking, your teeth and gums will begin to heal themselves, although you will require some professional dental assistance. However, your oral health may seem to take a temporary turn for the worse when you stop smoking, so it's important to know what to expect.
Gingivitis
One of the most obvious signs of gingivitis is bleeding gums. It's not as though your gums will gush with blood, but there can be bleeding when you brush and floss your teeth. As a smoker whose gums don't bleed, you might assume you've avoided gingivitis, but this isn't always the truth. Smoking can actually impede blood circulation to your gums, and so while you might have gingivitis, any bleeding might not become evident until after you've stopped and your circulation returns to a normal level. A dental checkup will be necessary, with scaling and polishing to remove plaque and tartar, and even antibiotics if the infection caused by your gingivitis is cause for alarm.
Periodontal Disease
As the blood circulation to your mouth and gums returns to an appropriate level, other oral health complications might start to become obvious. This can include periodontal disease, which can have affected the integrity of your gums. Periodontal disease would have been flagged by your dentist during your regular checkups, but smoking can accelerate it, and you may not have been visiting your dentist as regularly as you should have been. Correcting periodontal disease is easier once you've stopped smoking, as your habit will no longer aggravate the problem. In extreme cases, such as when your gums have receded to a significant degree, gingival tissue grafts may be needed to restore your gums.
Discolouration
Even if you've managed to avoid major periodontal disease or gingivitis, the colour of your teeth will have been adversely affected by smoking, but this isn't news. Your dentist can help to remove many of the deep stains left over from your habit. Ask if your dentist uses an airflow machine. This directs an air-polishing powder that can reduce or even eliminate that unpleasant reminder of your smoking. It's a form of deep cleaning that's also gentle and is extremely helpful for restoring your teeth after you've given up smoking. Teeth whitening can be performed after this professional deep cleaning.
Giving up smoking is the best thing you can do for your health, and this includes your oral health. The road to recovery can have a few unexpected bumps, but your oral health can be restored to its former glory.
For more information about dental care when you are a smoker, contact a local dental office.
Share12 March 2021
