When a person smokes, the smoke first enters the body through the mouth, so it should be no surprise that smoking is terrible for oral health. Drs. Navid Rahimpour and Faranak Rahimpour, DDS here at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO want the best oral health for all of their patients. If you smoke and have been thinking about quitting, now is the perfect time to do so!
When the smoke enters your mouth, it changes the gum tissue and the blood vessels within them. The top layer of gum tissue thickens; a condition called keratosis. The blood vessels become constricted, which means not enough blood supplies the area. The salivary glands also become damaged, which creates dry mouth. These types of conditions affect healing, immune strength, and promote an environment for bacteria growth.
Increased bacteria can lead to gum disease, which if left untreated, can lead to loss of teeth. The risk of infections is also greater since the immune strength is lowered. Smoking also stains breath and darkens teeth.
Probably the worst effect of any is that smoking causes cancer. Cancerous lesions can form on the gums, the lips, the throat, the tongue, and other areas of the mouth.
Our patients’ oral health is our top concern here at Southern Cross Dental. To schedule an examination and cleaning with Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour, DDS, call our Colorado Springs, CO office at (719) 471-1717 or visit our website, www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com.
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