What You Need to Know About Dental Aesthetics and Smoking

Any discussion of dental aesthetics Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills & Laguna Woods should start with a cautionary tale about the ill effects of smoking. Dentists have long known about the consequences of using tobacco. Here’s just a few things that should help to prevent you from smoking or motivate you to quit if you smoke now.

Everyone is well aware of the health risks related to smoking. However, not everyone understands how it affects your oral health as well as other parts of your body like the lungs.

Here’s a list of just some of the effects of smoking starting with the least severe and working up to more serious results.

Tobacco use can cause stained teeth and bad breath.
Over time, smoking can actually diminish your ability to taste food.
Recent research has shown that people who smoke for decades also compromise their immune systems. In other words, our dental aesthetics Aliso Viejo professionals strongly suggest you don’t use tobacco because it can hinder your ability to fight off illness.

Tobacco can cause a variety of other problems for your teeth. One that we see quite often is gum disease. Although gingivitis is treatable, once it progresses to the more severe periodontitis, you could lose teeth.

Dental Aesthetics Aliso Viejo, Smoking and Gum Disease

Smoking is a major cause of all types of gum disease. Some people think that smokeless tobacco is the answer since it doesn’t carry as many risks, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, research indicates that chewing tobacco is responsible for higher incidences of oral cancer in the people who use it.

There’s no mistaking the fact that if you smoke, you’re headed towards some dental trouble down the road. Even cosmetic dental services are not always an option when you’ve stained your teeth with nicotine. Some of the other techniques like crowns aren’t even possible if your gums are receding due to tobacco use.

It’s important to remember that your dentist can play an important role in helping you stop smoking. Routine dental visits are just the beginning. The very best dental practitioners will be able to motivate their patients with a variety of treatments and educational resources.

Making sure you have a beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime is our number one priority. Our dental aesthetics Aliso Viejo team is here to help.