Smoking is also harmful to your smile and can lead to deeply stained teeth, gum disease, and oral cancer. If you’ve considered quitting tobacco before, there’s never been a better time to do so! How can you get started?

Get Motivated and Prepare

Having motivation to quit is a great way to get started. Do you want to save money, be healthier, look younger, or be around for your family in the future?

Once you have your reasons for quitting (these will help you later when dealing with your cravings!), talk to your doctor. They may recommend nicotine replacement therapy, which can safely double your chances of successfully quitting [2].

Have a support network in place as well. Support could include people who know you’re planning to quit and are ready to be an encouraging support for your during this time, to apps that encourage and remind you about your reasons to quit!

Identify Potential Triggers

Your triggers are things that make you feel like smoking or things that you associate with smoking. Identify your triggers—these could be people you smoke with, certain times throughout the day when you smoke, or feelings that make you want to smoke.

To help name your triggers, keep a log of every time you feel like you want a cigarette, and note the time of day, the activity you’re doing, or the people you’re with, as well as the intensity of the caving.

Noting your triggers will be helpful when it comes time to quit so you can better navigate your cravings and know what situations it will be helpful to avoid in the beginning [3].

Be Ready to Deal With Your Cravings

Cravings will inevitably happen as your body withdrawals from nicotine. Former smokers can have cravings even months after quitting, so it’s smart to be prepared to deal with your cravings before setting your quit date.

What are some ways you can deal with your nicotine cravings?

• Avoid or remove yourself from triggering situations. If you’re in a situation that’s making you really want to smoke, consider leaving or at least taking a short walk to help get your mind off of smoking. If you can, do your best to avoid triggering situations, at least for the first few weeks!
• Find something to put in your mouth. During a bad craving, reach for sugarless gum, mints, or even sunflower seeds to help you get through it. Just be sure that whatever you choose is safe for your smile (for example, chewing on ice or pencils is a no!).
• Drink a glass of water. Water has been shown to help reduce the symptoms of withdrawal from nicotine and may even help lessen cravings [4].
• Stay active and busy. Start an exercise regimen, go outside, go somewhere where you can’t smoke, or otherwise distract yourself to help you get through the craving!

Don’t Give Up!

Many people have to try quitting tobacco numerous times to finally quit, but don’t give up—you can do this! Remind yourself why you quit in the first place and, if you have to, begin again and set another quit date. Your family, your body, and your smile will thank you!

Sources:
1. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_s
2. https://smokefree.gov/tools-tips/how-to-quit/using-nicotine-replacement-therapy

3. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/addictions/how-to-quit-smoking.htm
4. https://teen.smokefree.gov/quit-vaping/vaping-addiction-nicotine-withdrawal

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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

The post How Exactly Does Tobacco Harm Your Smile? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

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!

The post Can Vaping Impact Your Oral Health? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

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!

The post Are E-Cigarettes Harmful to Your Smile? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.