Summit Dental Group
Menu
Summit Dental Group Logo
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet the Dentists
    • Meet the Team
  • Services
    • Cosmetic Dentistry
    • Veneers
    • Invisalign
    • Teeth Whitening
    • Dental X-Rays
    • Teeth Cleaning
    • Night Guards
    • Dental Extractions
    • Dental Implants
    • Sports Guards
    • Root Canals
    • Periodontal Disease Therapy
    • Dental Crowns
    • Dental Bridges
  • Patient Info
    • Online Payments
    • Patient forms, Cancellation Policy, Medical records transfer
    • FAQs
    • Dental Membership Plan
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
Request An Appointment

New Patients: (208) 314-2275

Existing Patients: (208) 345-8962

Summit Dental Group - Blog

09

Sep

How Smoking Affects Your Oral Health

  • Dr. Amy Leberman
  • Blog
Burning Cigarette

As most of us know, smoking is responsible for causing heart disease and cancer. But did you know that smoking affects your oral health as well? The combination of smoke and nicotine not only discolors teeth but can cause excess plaque and tartar to form, leading to periodontal disease, among other things. That’s why the Boise dentists at Summit Dental Group would like to provide you with the following ways smoking affects your oral health.

Smoking Causes Bad Breath

Not only does the smell of smoke linger on your tongue, cheeks, and gums, it can cause dry mouth in the process. Because saliva works to keep your mouth healthy by preventing the growth of problem-causing bacteria, smoking decreases the amount of saliva you produce. In turn, this can cause you to develop bad breath with the unpleasant smell of stale cigarettes.

Oral Diseases Associated With Smoking

Oral cancer is one of the most common diseases associated with smoking. In fact, those who smoke are six times more likely to develop oral cancer than non-smokers. This type of cancer can affect the gums, tongue, lips, and throat. Why? The chemicals contained in tobacco can change healthy cells into cancerous ones over time. However, if caught early, oral cancer can be successfully treated. Left ignored, it can lead to disfiguration or even death.

Additional oral health diseases associated with smoking include gum disease and gingivitis. These issues cause the gums of your mouth to become infected and inflamed. Severe gum disease and gingivitis cases can lead to tooth loss, which can require more invasive and expensive dental health treatments such as dental implants.

How Smoking Affects Dental Treatments

Smoking restricts blood flow by contracting your veins and arteries. This can make it harder to heal after surgery and dental treatments. Furthermore, treated areas are more likely to get irritated or infected by the chemicals in tobacco. For example, suppose you have a tooth extraction and are waiting to receive a dental implant, your Boise dentist will advise you not to smoke because doing so can lead to dry socket – a painful condition that makes the healing process more difficult.

Maintaining Your Oral Health

If you’re a smoker and want to maintain your oral health, it’s important to brush and floss your teeth daily and visit your Boise dentist for regular check-ups. You can also receive professional teeth whitening treatments to remove any unwanted stains. However, if you continue to smoke, a teeth whitening treatment won’t last as long as it would for non-smokers.

Visit Your Boise Dentist Regularly

Visiting your Boise dentist for regular check-ups every six months will help reduce your chances of developing oral health issues associated with smoking. At Summit Dental, we can help give you a whiter smile and catch problems early while they are still small enough to fix with minimal treatment.

Summit Dental Group

Interested in learning more? Contact the Boise dentists at Summit Dental to schedule an appointment today. You can fill out our online form or give us a call at (208) 314-2275. We look forward to seeing you and helping you kick the smoking habit for a healthier, more radiant smile.

Back to Blog Page

Recent Posts

  • Our Boise Dentists Will Suggest Boise Dental X-rays When….
  • Great Children’s Books on Dental Health
  • A Boise Dentists Guide to Dental Insurance
  • A Boise Dentist Guide to Improving Gum Health
  • What is a Full Mouth Reconstruction?

Recent Comments

No comments to show.

Archives

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010

Categories

  • Blog
  • Uncategorized

Success Stories

Read More Stories
782 S Americana Blvd, Boise, ID 83702
New Patients: (208) 314-2275
Existing Patients: (208) 345-8962

Monday – Thursday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday: 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM

  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map
© 2023 Summit Dental Group. All Rights Reserved. Powered by www.ekwa.com
  • Call
  • Appointment
  • Treatments
  • Find us
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet the Dentists
    • Meet the Team
  • Services
    • Cosmetic Dentistry
    • Veneers
    • Invisalign
    • Teeth Whitening
    • Dental X-Rays
    • Teeth Cleaning
    • Night Guards
    • Dental Extractions
    • Dental Implants
    • Sports Guards
    • Root Canals
    • Periodontal Disease Therapy
    • Dental Crowns
    • Dental Bridges
  • Patient Info
    • Online Payments
    • Patient forms, Cancellation Policy, Medical records transfer
    • FAQs
    • Dental Membership Plan
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Appointment Request
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map
  • Cosmetic Dentistry
  • Veneers
  • Invisalign
  • Teeth Whitening
  • Dental X-Rays
  • Teeth Cleaning
  • Night Guards
  • Dental Extractions
  • Dental Implants
  • Sports Guards
  • Root Canals
  • Periodontal Disease Therapy
  • Dental Crowns
  • Dental Bridges
  • New Patients:
  • Existing Patients: