People who smoke are likely to develop stains on their teeth due to the nicotine and tar in tobacco. To make matters worse, the teeth can turn yellow for those who are light smokers, and almost brown for those who smoke for a long time. Health experts emphasise that smoking tobacco has been connected to oral cancer, among other cancers in the body. It can affect the health of one’s teeth and gums, among other oral diseases. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that oral diseases, while largely preventable, pose a major health burden for many countries and affect people throughout their lifetime, causing pain, discomfort, disfigurement, and even death. It is estimated that oral diseases affect nearly 3.5 billion people. According to Gilbert Nuwagaba, an Adult and Paediatric Dentistry specialist, smoking has no good but harm. Firstly, it’s known to cause periodontal disease, also known as gum disease. He explains that this gum infection wears and tears the soft tissue and failure to get treatment can crash the bone that supports your teeth. For him, periodontitis can cause teeth to slacken and you can tell that you’re suffering from the condition if you have red, dark red or purplish gums, bleeding gums, spluttering out blood when brushing or flossing your teeth, bad breathe, pus between teeth and gums, painful chewing, teeth loss and more. Nuwagaba further explains that smiling comfortably and confidently may be hard for people who smoke, as smoking leads to discoloration of teeth. Although some people opt for professional teeth whitening, sometimes the stains may not completely disappear. “Smoking can weaken the immune system, which may be hard to defend against oral diseases or cause longer time retrieving from dental surgical measures, increased pain after oral and gum operations, slow healing tooth socket after a tooth removal,” he states. He adds that people who smoke are more likely to develop bad breath, even when they avert the smell by using mouthwashes, it may just be effective for a short while,” he states. The dental expert also stresses that smoking contributes to plaque, and its build-up, resulting in cavities, decay, and tooth loss. Nuwagaba highlights that people who smoke have higher chances of developing mouth cancer (oral cancer), this is the cancer of the mouth comprising the tongue, cheeks, top of the mouth, and lips. However, it can also happen in other areas of the mouth. He adds that the common signs of mouth cancer are white or red patches in the mouth, bumps in the mouth, insistent ulcer in the mouth or on the lips that don’t vanish after seven to ten days, mainly if the ulcer is not painful. “Oral cancer includes cancers of the lip, other parts of the mouth, and the oropharynx. The global incidence of cancers of the lip and oral cavity is estimated at four cases per 100,000 people. However, there is wide variation across the globe, from 0 to around 22 cases per 100 000 people. Oral cancer is more common in men and in older people, and it varies strongly by socio-economic condition,” states WHO. Prevention Quitting smoking as soon as possible can significantly lessen serious risks to one’s health. According to WebMD, to stop using tobacco, your dentist or doctor may be able to help you calm nicotine cravings with medications, such as nicotine gum and patches. Some of these products can be purchased over the counter; others require a prescription. Other medications (such as Zyban) require a prescription. Smoking cessation classes and support groups are often used in tandem with drug therapy. Nuwagaba stresses that quitting is possible regardless of how long you have been smoking, as long as you are willing to stay away from environments that increase your cravings. “Keep yourself busy with other activities to avoid thinking about smoking. He also urges seeking therapy, especially for people who smoke while stressed.”
