Smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol can have serious effects on a person’s health. These substances have various damaging effects on oral health as well. It is important to be aware of the possible dangers that can occur with this use and know some ways to prevent damage from occurring. Here you can learn about the effects of tobacco and alcohol on oral health.
Effects of Tobacco on Oral Health
- Tooth discolouration
Tobacco can cause your teeth to become yellow or brown in colour because of the nicotine it contains. Whether you are smoking it or chewing on it, tobacco can stain your teeth. Tooth discolouration due to tobacco use sometimes appears because tobacco decreases blood flow in the gums.
- Bad breath
Bad breath due to smoking tobacco can be caused for several reasons. Firstly, due to the different chemicals that are included in tobacco cigarettes. Also, bad breath can be caused because tobacco dries the mouth out. Smoking can decrease the production of saliva resulting in a dried-out mouth and bad breath.
- Tooth loss
Smoking can cause tooth loss after gum disease. Tobacco use can decrease the blood flow in the gums, leading to gum disease and eventually tooth loss.
- Oral cancer
Smoking or chewing tobacco products can lead to oral cancer which can, unfortunately, cause someone’s life. Oral cancer can appear on the tongue, gums, the inside of the cheeks and the lips.
Effects of Alcohol on Oral Health
- Bad Breath
Just like tobacco, alcohol can also dry out a person’s mouth by decreasing saliva production and subsequently causing bad breath.
- Tooth decay
Alcoholic beverages, especially sugary ones, can contribute to tooth decay by providing fuel for the bacteria in your mouth to produce acid.
- Gum disease
Alcohol can weaken your immune system, making you more vulnerable and thus prone to gum disease. Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth and can also lead to tooth loss.
- Oral cancer
Heavy alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing oral cancer. Consuming alcohol can cause changes in the cells of the mouth and throat and lead to cancer.
In conclusion, consuming tobacco and alcohol can be very harmful to someone’s oral health and cause various problems, some more serious than others. If you consume tobacco and alcohol, try to avoid and reduce it or even quit, because it is for your own good. Moreover, if you do consume tobacco and/or alcohol, you should pay regular visits to the dentist for checkups and dental cleaning and maintain good oral hygiene at home.
