How Does Smoking Affect Oral Health?

You already know that smoking is hazardous for your health. Medical research throughout the years has linked it to lung cancer and an increased risk of coronary heart disease.

Did you also know that smoking can have a very serious impact on your oral health? In today’s post, we want to briefly mention some of the risks smoking poses for your oral health.

Patients who smoke may experience the following issues:

• Bad breath
• Staining
• Increased plaque and tartar buildup
• Bone loss in the jaw
• Increased risk of gum disease
• Longer healing period after dental procedures
• Lower success rate with dental implants
• Increased risk of oral cancer

These are significant risks. If you smoke regularly or use another form of tobacco, quitting will help you safeguard your oral health. There are many resources and solutions for patients who want to quit, but have struggled to do so.

If you have more questions about how smoking can have a direct impact on your oral health, don’t hesitate to call Bethesda Sedation Dentistry. Dr. Klotz and Dr. Schlossberg would be happy to answer your questions and offer encouragement. We will also look for all of these issues during your next checkup and cleaning. If we find any of them, we’re happy to offer personalized care.

We serve patients from Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Rockville, Potomac, Annapolis, Crofton, Baltimore, Crownsville, and Washington D.C.