How Smoking Affects Your Teeth

We’re not going to give you a lecture about the health effects of smoking. But the effects of smoking on the your teeth and oral health is undeniable, backed by many years of research. Those that smokers are much more likely to develop gum disease than non-smokers. See below for some of the way smoking affects your dental health, and our suggestions for keeping your teeth healthy for smokers.

Damage to your teeth

Research has shown that smoking can cause bones in the jaw to wear away over time, which is painful and dangerous. It can also lead to receding gums, which leaves teeth susceptible to injury and decay — not to mention increased sensitivity and more risk of contracting oral infections. Smokers are twice as likely to experience teeth falling out compared to non-smokers.

Discolouration of teeth

Nicotine and tobacco will stain your teeth over time, giving them that yellow appearance that many associate with smokers.

Bad breath

The odour in your mouth immediately after smoking can eventually become a permanent fixture, with the development of gum disease, oral sores and tooth decay — and no amount of mouthwash can get rid of it. It may also lead to a diminished sense of taste as well.

Serious health consequences

Lung cancer goes without saying. But did you know that smoking also greatly increases the risk of developing oral cancer? A growth or sore in the mouth that does not go away, in severe cases oral cancer can be life threatening.

Of course, the simplest solution for smokers to avoid these illnesses from occurring is to give up smoking before any lasting damage to your oral health is caused. However, oftentimes that is easier said than done. One alternative is to turn to e-cigarettes instead — statistics show that it drastically reduces the risk of developing oral cancer. However, while they do not contain tobacco they do still contain nicotine, meaning that they do not completely eradicate the harmful effects that smoking can have on your dental health. As a relatively new thing in the world of smoking, the long term effects of e-cigarettes on oral health are still being studied and remain to be seen.