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Quitting Smoking Makes Your Dentist Smile Article
Quitting Smoking Makes Your Dentist Smile
from: Sara MendezPeople try to quit smoking for many different reasons. Some want to avoid cancer or other health problems and some just want to insure they will live longer. According to BBC News, dentists across Europe have given the public one more reason to quit smoking.
Along with the obvious health risks with smoking such as lung cancer and heart disease, this new study shows an increase in oral cancers, diminished ability of taste buds and rejection of certain dental procedures. Smoking can also cause the gums to recede, leaving the roots of the tooth exposed.
Implants work in a similar way to dentures. They are used in people who have lost individual teeth, create a bridge and to create support and a better fit for older dentures. Implants work by functioning as the "root" of the tooth because they are made from titanium and are implanted in the jaw. They are coated with a substance called hydroxyapatite which acts as the same chemical makeup of our own bones which makes implants more effective than dentures.
Not everyone is a candidate for implants however. A prime candidate requires good healing and blood flow to insure the gum tissue heals properly without infection or rejection of the implant. Implant rejection happens more commonly in smokers. Smoking as well as other diseases such as diabetes, effect how the body heals and how the blood flows, thus resulting in a likely rejection.
Implants were not the only dental procedure affected by smoking, teeth removals and fillings also showed problems due to smoking. Smoking can make the antibiotics and creams much less effective before and during dental procedures.
According to a study done by the American Dental Association, 32% of smokers needed to have a filling replaced, 10.1% needed a tooth extraction and 22.5% needed a major dental cleaning. Smoking can also be a factor in the loss of jaw bone, gum disease leading to tooth loss, and increased plaque and tartar build up. According to WebMD, 90% of patients with oral cancer use tobacco products and of those 90%, 37% who keep using tobacco products after having one cancerous lesion removed will develop another compared to 6% of those who quit smoking.
Tobacco secession is the only way to combat not only dental problems but other health problems. Quitting is never easy and a challenge every smoker fears, however almost every smoker fears cancer too and quitting won't kill, but cancer will.
There are many ways available to quit smoking and your dentist can help you on your path. There are prescription treatments such as Zyban or Wellbutrin which can help curb cravings. There are also over the counter treatments such as the nicotine patch, gum and lozenges. Other treatments include hypnosis, acupuncture and herbal remedies. Patients should talk with their dentists or healthcare providers to find out the best way to quit for them. Since each person is different, each persons plan will be different.
Some people use a combination of treatments to quit. Quitting smoking can be a difficult road, however it will get easier. The health benefits far outweigh the challenge.
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