The dangers of smoking cigarettes are known the world over. And while you may be fed upto your back teeth (pun intended) of hearing about the disadvantages of smoking, it may be worth exploring the advantages of quitting this habit instead.

As you may have guessed, smoking does not only cause issues with your general health but also wreaks havoc on your dental health, which can cause long-term issues with self-esteem, loose teeth and, of course, chronic yellowing of the enamel. None of these are things that somebody should aim to have.

At Amsel & Wilkins, our dentist in Banbury is happy to provide our patients who smoke with smoking cessation advice to help them get their dental health back on track and, of course, improve their life and other aspects of their well-being. Great stuff!

But what are some of the advantages that are to be had from quitting smoking on your dental health? Here, our dentist in Banbury provides some answers.

Gum health

Gum disease is the leading cause of missing teeth in adults. While you may have heard that gum disease is caused by plaque, it can be worsened by smoking. This is because the chemicals in cigarette smoke attack the gum tissue and cause it to deteriorate or mutate. Smoking can also destroy the tendons, which can cause issues with the stability of your teeth.

Therefore, according to our dentist in Banbury, a key advantage of quitting smoking is having healthier, pinker gums that are less susceptible to periodontal disease.

Whiter teeth

There are no two ways around this; if you smoke cigarettes or cigars, your teeth will feel the pinch, specifically relating to colour. Many people know of someone who smokes cigarettes excessively and has yellowing teeth, which is not something that is cosmetically appealing and can hinder self-esteem.

By quitting smoking and maintaining good oral hygiene, these stains can be removed, providing you with a healthier-looking and whiter smile.

Fresher breath

In a similar vein, smoking also causes very bad breath, due in part to dehydration and reduction in saliva in the mouth.

So rather than spending a fortune on chewing gum and continuing to smoke, it may be worth giving up the habit altogether to allow your mouth to stop being so dry and enable your saliva to do its job and keep your mouth hydrated and your breath fresher.

Lowered oral cancer risk

The risks between smoking and cancer are nothing new but, if you are a smoker, you will need to attend dental checkups more regularly for our team to assess your mouth for signs of oral cancer.

These can vary from anything from lumps to sores that will not heal to loose teeth. But by quitting smoking, you can reduce your risk of developing oral cancer by 70% over 2 years.

Longer lasting teeth!

Following on from gum disease and its links to oral cancer comes longer lasting teeth. If you do develop gum disease, and if it is aggressive or left untreated, the likely outcome is that your teeth will fall out. By quitting smoking, you reduce the risk of developing aggressive gum disease, and your teeth will likely last longer.