For a smoker, halting of smoking activity is the best way reduce the damages smoking delivers to oral health. However, for those who have not made up their mind to quit or having difficult or hindrances in quitting, some ameliorating steps can be taken to improve oral hygiene and cushion the effects of smoking.
These critical steps are as follows;
1- Quit Smoking
The foremost important step to maintain oral health is early quitting. Putting an end to tobacco use can break off some of the outcomes of smoking, such as inflammation and breakdown of the gums, and even drastically reduce the risk of oral cancer. Smoking cessation programs can be found out there in huge numbers, also nicotine therapies replacement, and some support groups also assist in throwing smoking for good.
2- Maintenance of Excellent Oral Hygiene
Brushing of teeth twice a day especially with fluoride toothpaste can assist in strengthening the enamel and protect it against cavities. Likewise, brushing of the tongue also creates an atmosphere removing bacteria and warding off against discoloration.
Floss daily: The use of floss fibres removed debris and plaque in between teeth where possibly the tooth brush bristles might not during regular brushing and this in turn reduces the risk of periodontal disease.
Use an antibacterial mouthwash: This helps in killing bacteria in the mouth and causing drastic reduction in their presence which in turn lessen the possibility of halitosis and inflammation of the gums.
3- Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Consistent dental visits and scalings with proper monitoring are highly recommended for current smokers. This allows the dentist to follow up oral health for early signs of any gum infection or even oral cancer in the long run of the visitations made and this will create a very fertile ground for early intervention. Likewise the dentist would be able to clean up the tobacco stains and subsequently remove calculus from the teeth and its surrounding tissues.
4- Hydrate And Chew Sugar-Free Gum
Smoking can dehydrate the oral cavity, and as such reduce the production of saliva by the salivary glands. Therefore maintenance of hydration by drinking a lot of water and chewing of sugar-free gum assist in stimulating salivary secretion by the salivary glands, this in turn maintain the cleanliness of the oral cavity and ward against bacteria build up.
"While some of the damage caused by smoking—like tooth discoloration and black hairy tongue—can be treated or reversed with professional care and lifestyle changes, more serious conditions like gum disease and oral cancer can have lasting effects."Source
"Stained teeth can be whitened with professional teeth whitening treatments, but the results may not last if you continue smoking.
Gum disease can be managed, but severe periodontitis that leads to bone loss or tooth loss may require more advanced treatments like surgery or dental implants.
The best way to halt or reverse the damage is to quit smoking as soon as possible and commit to excellent oral hygiene."Source
In conclusion, smoking’s impact on oral health is numerous, from esthetic issues like stained teeth and social life such as bad breath to a more compounding issues such as gum infection, tooth loss and cancer of the mouth. The earlier the quit and adopting healthy oral hygiene lifestyles, the better the chances of teeth and gums preservation.
A smoker who notices symptoms of gum disease, tooth discoloration, among others issues, should try to visit dentist for a quick evaluation before becoming stronger and cancerous. Therefore regular dental check-ups and scalings go a long way in managing the effects of smoking and maintenance of oral health.
That's all as regards the post on smoking impact on oral health and happy reading and blogging. More would be reviewed on oral health tips in the subsequent writeups.
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