How exactly does tobacco harm your oral health? Here we cover some of the biggest and most lasting impacts that using any type of tobacco product can have on your beautiful smile.

Tobacco Causes Oral Cancer

All types of tobacco have been linked to cancer, including oral cancer. Oral cancer includes cancers of mouth, tongue, throat, neck, and even certain parts of the face. Tobacco is the leading cause of cancer and death from cancer, including oral cancer [1].

In fact, people who use tobacco products—cigar smokers in particular—are up to 10 times more likely to die from oral cancer, including esophageal cancer (cancer of the esophagus, or the tube that connects your throat and your stomach) and laryngeal cancer (cancer of the larynx, which forms part of the throat and the vocal cords) [2].

Smoking and Chewing Tobacco Stain Your Smile

It’s no secret that smoking and chewing tobacco have a negative effect on the appearance of your smile [3]. People who use tobacco tend to have a yellowish or brownish hue to their teeth, which can get worse over time, especially with regular use.

These stains can be difficult to remove, even after you’ve stopped using tobacco products. You may have the option of getting a professional teeth whitening, but for some people, these stains won’t come out or will only lighten to a certain degree.

Increased Risk of Gum Disease

Smoking and tobacco use also increases your risk for gum disease [4]. Tobacco products contain nicotine, which is addictive, and nicotine affects the oral cavity by decreasing blood flow to the gum tissue.

Since nicotine inhibits blood flow in the oral cavity, it actually works to mask symptoms of gum disease. Many people who smoke or otherwise use tobacco have gum disease and experience minimal or no symptoms, leading them to think everything is fine while gum disease is discreetly advancing. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults in the United States and can dramatically impact your smile if left untreated [5]!

Do You Smoke or Use Tobacco?

If you use tobacco products (remember, e-cigarettes still contain nicotine!), it’s time to reconsider your use. There are more options than ever today to help you quit—including nicotine gum, patches, and even medications you can take. Talk to your doctor or dentist today to get started with kicking your tobacco habit to the curb!

Sources:
1. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/tobacco/cessation-fact-
sheet
2. https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=oral-cancer-and-tobacco-85-
P00900
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1079878/
4. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/s/smoking-and-tobacco
5. https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/research/data-statistics/periodontal-disease

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What exactly is the impact of marijuana on dental health? Here’s how marijuana could be harming your teeth and gums over time.

Increased Risk of Periodontal Disease

Similar to smoking cigarettes, smoking marijuana has been linked to gum disease. Research shows a correlation between regular marijuana use and an increased risk of gum disease.

Higher rates of gum disease have been noted among people who use marijuana frequently, so the more you use marijuana, the more likely you are to have gum disease. In addition, studies have shown that gum disease may manifest earlier in life for marijuana users.

Although a causal link hasn’t been established, experts speculate that marijuana irritates the soft tissues of the mouth and causes damage to the ligaments that help anchor the teeth in place, making gum disease more likely.

Reduced Saliva Contributes to Tooth Decay

Marijuana dries out the oral cavity by reducing production of saliva. This leads to dry mouth, which has been linked to tooth decay and chronic bad breath.

How does this happen? Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active component in marijuana, inhibits salivary glands in the mouth from producing saliva. When saliva production is blocked, the mouth quickly becomes dry.

A dry mouth typically has a lower pH, leading your oral cavity to be more acidic. Having a lower pH increases the chances that tooth decay will occur, as harmful bacteria attack tooth enamel and can erode it away.

Potentially Higher Risk of Oral Cancers

In some studies, marijuana has been linked to an increased risk of oral cancer. These cancers include cancers of the mouth and neck. Research has been inconclusive when it comes to marijuana and an increased cancer risk, but here’s what we do know.

Marijuana contains many of the same carcinogens as cigarettes. Marijuana smoke also contains higher concentrations of these toxic chemicals than cigarettes. Ongoing research is needed, but at this time, it’s best to be cautionary when it comes to marijuana and its known toxins.

Yellowing Teeth

Although not exactly a health impact of marijuana, marijuana smokers, just like tobacco smokers, are more likely to have yellow teeth. Their teeth are more at risk to take on a yellow or brown hue due to using this substance. By minimizing smoking or avoiding it altogether, you can help your teeth remain white and free of deep staining.

When it comes to marijuana, we know that it’s been linked to a higher risk of periodontal disease and is known for drying out the oral cavity, which can increase your risk for tooth decay. Although the jury is still out on whether or not marijuana use increases your risk for oral cancer, avoiding smoking or reducing your use can help you better maintain a healthy smile!

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Since e-cigarettes and vaping are relatively new, long-term research isn’t available, but what we
do know about these devices gives us pause when it comes to your oral health as well as the
health of your entire body. Here’s how vaping impacts your oral health.

Vaping Causes Inflammation of Gum Tissue

Contrary to the belief of some people, e-cigarettes still contain nicotine. When used, they burn
nicotine and other chemicals for you to inhale.

Although extensive data regarding e-cigarettes is lacking, the same is not true for nicotine. We
know that nicotine inhibits blood flow to the soft tissues in the oral cavity, which can not only
mask symptoms of disease, but create a poor immune response to infection.

What this means for you is that you may have severe gum disease and not show many
symptoms. Nicotine can cause your gum tissue to recede and often by the time the user
realizes there’s a problem, periodontal disease is widespread.

Nicotine in E-Cigarettes Leads to Dry Mouth

The nicotine in e-cigarettes can also cause dry mouth. By drying out the mouth, these devices
can increase your risk for both tooth decay and gum disease.

Our saliva is meant to protect our teeth and help balance our oral bacteria. When saliva
production is inhibited by nicotine, the tissues of your mouth aren’t getting the necessary
nutrients to remain healthy. The lack of saliva can cause bacteria to attack your tooth enamel
and cause tooth decay.

If you choose to use e-cigarettes, staying hydrated by sipping water throughout the day is
important to help your smile stay healthy!

You Increase Your Risk of Oral Cancer with Vaping

Published research about e-cigarettes is finding more and more dangerous chemicals in these
products. Toxic chemicals and heavy metals present in e-cigarettes are damaging to the lungs
when inhaled. These chemicals have the potential to be carcinogenic, and since the vapor is
coming into direct contact with the mouth, your risk for oral cancer is increased.

Inhaling these heavy metals and chemicals in the form of vapor can aggravate the lungs and
worsen existing respiratory conditions such as asthma. Other e-cigarette users can develop
severe, life-threatening reactions such as wet lung, where the lungs are in distress and are
unable to get oxygen into the blood due to the presence of chemicals, an injury, or an infection.

Although vaping has been marketed as being “safer” than cigarettes, the jury is still out on this
one. The presence of nicotine and other chemicals make these smoking devices a threat to your
oral health, increasing your risk of gum disease, tooth decay, and oral cancer. If you choose to
use these products, visiting your dentist can help you maintain the health of your teeth and
gums!

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Cigarette smokers are more prone to many different illnesses. In addition to increasing your risk
for asthma, heart disease, stroke, and cancer, cigarette smokers are also more likely to have
dental health issues. Here’s how cigarette smoke can damage your smile.

Gum Disease

Cigarette smoke affects the soft tissues of the mouth in addition to the teeth. Your gum tissue
is essential in supporting your teeth. Smoking inhibits blood circulation in the gum tissue,
meaning the teeth won’t be as healthy due to lack of blood supply and nutrients in the gums.

Smoking also means you’re more likely to get infections, such as those from gum disease,
because your immune system is impacted by the toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke. People
who smoke are not only twice as likely to get gum disease, but gum disease is harder to treat in
people who smoke because the body doesn’t respond as well to treatments as someone with a
healthy immune system.

The longer you smoke and the more you smoke, the more your smile will be impacted by oral
health problems such as gum disease.

Oral Cancer

The immune system is impacted by cigarette smoke in addition to your cells—healthy cells have
the potential to turn cancerous, meaning oral cancer is a very real risk for smokers.

Oral cancer includes cancers of the mouth, throat, and tongue. People who smoke aren’t just
affected by oral cancer. Tobacco is known to cause lung cancer, kidney cancer, stomach cancer,
and pancreatic cancer, in addition to being linked to many other diseases.

Smokers can expect to have a substantially greater risk for oral cancer than non-smokers. Most
dentists advocate for an oral cancer screening yearly for everyone, not just people who smoke.
People who smoke may be encouraged to come in more often for these screenings.

Tooth Loss

Along with increased plaque and tartar in the mouth, smoking affects the teeth as well as the
immune system and your gum tissue, which, of course, are all connected!

Since smoking can impact the gum tissue and cause infections and gum recession, teeth have
the potential to fall out. Gum tissue plays a major role in supporting teeth, and gum disease is
one of the major causes of tooth loss in older adults.

In addition, smoking causes loss of bone in your jaw, which can further inhibit the necessary
support for your teeth. Smoking cigarettes also means your body doesn’t heal as well as
someone who doesn’t smoke, so smokers typically see lower success rates with tooth
replacements such as dental implants.

If you’re a daily smoker or even just a recreational one, you’re increasing your chances for
major oral health problems. In addition to seeing your dentist every six months for a checkup,
ask your doctor or dentist about quitting. Your body and your smile will thank you!

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E-Cigarettes Can Harm Your Gums

E-cigarettes still deliver nicotine to your body. Nicotine can contribute to receding gums as well as gingivitis and periodontal disease. The symptoms of these problems include receding or bleeding gums, red and swollen gums, and gum tenderness. Nicotine does this by restricting blood flow to your gums, so they aren’t receiving the proper amount of oxygen they need to remain healthy. People who use e-cigarettes often notice that their gums begin to pull back from their teeth, but they also tend to be lacking in other symptoms of gum disease.

Nicotine Masks Symptoms of Gum Disease

Since nicotine causes your blood vessels to constrict and reduce blood flow, it can actually hide many of the symptoms of gum disease. When your gums aren’t getting the oxygen or blood they need, they likely won’t bleed, swell, or be red. This means you could still have gum disease as a result of smoking e-cigarettes but not be experiencing the symptoms. This is dangerous because it can fool not only patients but even oral health care professionals into thinking that your gums are healthy. One symptom it doesn’t mask is gum recession, so if you notice this, schedule to see your dentist right away.

If you do smoke e-cigarettes, be sure to tell your dentist so that he or she can thoroughly examine your gums to ensure you’re not suffering from gum disease. Your dentist can do this by checking for abnormal pockets of space around your teeth.

E-Cigarettes Can Contribute to Dry Mouth and Bruxism

Nicotine is a known stimulant, which can affect the muscles in your body. Your jaw muscles are very powerful and can be easily be affected by nicotine. If you do suffer from teeth grinding (also called bruxism), the delivery of nicotine in the form of e-cigarettes can cause your bruxism to worsen. If you don’t grind your teeth, nicotine can be responsible for the onset of this dangerous and extremely damaging habit.

E-cigarettes can also be responsible for causing dry mouth because nicotine inhibits saliva production. Saliva is very important for fresh breath, preventing tooth decay, and keeping our gums healthy. When your mouth lacks the proper amount of saliva, you’re more at risk to suffer from oral health problems.

Although e-cigarettes are rumored to be not quite as dangerous as traditional cigarettes, scientists are still uncovering the effects of these nicotine vessels. It’s crucial that you research the risks and make an informed decision about e-cigarettes. Talk with your dentist about the risks, and learn more about quitting nicotine for good!

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Smoking and Periodontal Disease

Smoking can affect the normal function of the cells that make up gum tissue. The result is gums that are susceptible to infection. When a person smokes, the type of bacteria found in the mouth changes. More aggressive forms of bacteria take hold and make gum infections more common. Smoking also increases calculus on the teeth. Calculus, along or under the gumline, can cause serious gum damage if not regularly removed by a dental professional.

Because smoking also impairs blood flow in the gums, the healing process is slowed. This makes it difficult to recover from periodontal disease even if the infection can be cleared up. Unfortunately, even those who wish to kick the tobacco habit often have a difficult time due to the addictive nature of nicotine.

Is Smokeless Tobacco Better for Your Gums?

Absolutely not! Using chewing tobacco can result in a receding gumline. This not only leaves your gums open to infection, but it increases the odds of suffering from tooth decay. Since chewing-tobacco contains more nicotine than cigarettes, it may be even tougher to kick this habit. Nicotine is not only addictive, but it also contributes to faster calculus build up and gum problems.

Quick Facts About Periodontal Disease and Tobacco

– Smokers have double the odds of getting gum disease than non-smokers.

– Risks increase based on how much a person smokes and how long they have been a smoker.

– Gum disease treatment is not as successful for smokers.

– Chewing tobacco and pipe tobacco also increase the risk of periodontal disease.

Other Dental Health Conditions Related to Tobacco

Gum disease is not the only thing that tobacco users need to be concerned with when it comes to oral health. Other conditions related to smoking and chewing tobacco include:

– Various oral cancers (especially when using chewing tobacco)

– Receding gums

– Poor bone density

– An increased risk of dental implant failure

You Can Kick the Habit

There are various medications, gums, and patches on the market to help people break away from tobacco and nicotine. If you need assistance, ask your dentist for recommendations. Your dentist will be happy to help since kicking the tobacco habit is the best thing you can do for your periodontal health.

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