Smokers Teeth - Come In Today

Smokers Teeth, Black Hairy Tongue, Oral Cancer.

These are all reasons to see your Dentist and
Dental Hygienist regularly if you smoke.

Here are Pictures Of Oral Cancer.

Never try to diagnose yourself. See your local Dentist.

We all know smoking is bad for you. But do you know why?

In general, smoking creates a very basic environment in your body putting the pH balance off. This means the acidic environment that usually breaks down any plaque build-up is not present and plaque is allowed to build up in your body...in your lungs, your blood vessels, your mouth...and more.

Now you are susceptible to heart attack, stroke, lung disease, periodontal disease, and worse...

In the mouth, one of the biggest reasons smoking is so bad for the oral cavity is not because of the tar and chemicals in the cigarettes (although, these are of course dangerous too) but, it's the heat of the smoking that irritates the mouth.

Your mouth likes it's own temperature. When it is consistently raised from smoking, the cells change to protect themselves. Now you risk cancer, since cancer is altered cell activity.

Depending on the amount and length of time someone has smoked, they can also expect:

* Persistent bad breath
* An increase of calculus (tartar) build-up
* Periodontal (gum and bone) disease
* Jaw bone loss
* Shifting teeth
* Oral cancers
* Mouth sores
* Root caries (cavities)
* Sinusitis
* Smoker's lip (like a burn)
* Delayed wound healing

Gum Disease

Smoking is a significant risk factor for gum disease. Tobacco reduces blood flow to the gums, depriving them of oxygen and nutrients that allow gums to stay healthy, and leaving them vulnerable to bacterial infection.

If unchecked, periodontal disease can lead to complete destruction of the tooth's supporting tissues, abscesses and, ultimately, loss of the tooth.

The little papillae on the tongue, that surround the taste buds, don't like the heat and products in cigarettes. They will actually grow and fold over the taste buds to protect them.
Then tar and other products get trapped among them and cause the tongue to look black and hairy.

These over grown papillae also lessen the smokers ability to taste flavors. This is why food tastes so much better when someone quits smoking...the papillae stop protecting the taste buds.

For Smokers Teeth and other reasons, we at Dr. Wempe's office encourage you to stop smoking.

Call the smoker's helpline at 1-877-513-5333
or visit The Cancer Society.

If You Have Smokers Teeth - Call Today