Smoking and oral health

Smoking isn’t just bad for the lungs and the heart, it is bad for the teeth, gums and dental health too.

Smoking can cause stained yellow or brown teeth, bad breath, gum disease, loss of teeth and mouth cancer. Tobacco use is estimated to cause more than 90% of oral cancers.

Smoking is thought to alter bacteria in dental plaque, making it more harmful.

Other oral health problems linked to smoking include:

• Bad breath

• Tooth discolouration

• Inflammation of the salivarygland openings on the roof of the mouth

• Increased build-up of plaque and tartar on the teeth

• Increased loss of bone within the jaw

• Increased risk of leukoplakia, white patches inside the mouth

• Increased risk of developing gum disease, a leading cause of tooth loss

• Delayed healing process following tooth extraction, periodontal treatment, or oral surgery

• Lower success rate of dental implant procedures

• Increased risk of developing oral cancer.

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