In this article from best cosmetic dentist in South Jersey:
- Tobacco increases your risk for gum disease and tooth loss
- E-cigarettes and vaping devices can contain the same toxic ingredients as cigarettes
- Smokeless tobacco and hookahs contain nicotine and other hazardous chemicals
- Reasons to quit using tobacco and tips to help you succeed
Do You Use Tobacco?
You are probably aware that tobacco may cause cancer, stroke and heart disease. But did you know that it can also cause serious harm to your mouth?
It doesn’t matter how you use it. Whether you smoke, vape, dip or chew, tobacco is not good for you.
Talk with your dentist or physician about ways to quit. Rapha Dental is the best cosmetic dentist in South Jersey and can help you as well!
Using Any Form of Tobacco is Risky
Cigarettes, pipes and cigars
Smoking traditional tobacco products like cigarettes, pipes and cigars may cause serious health issues to your mouth and throat.
Cigarette smoke has more than 7,000 chemicals and chemical compounds like carbon monoxide and arsenic.
At least 70 of theses are known to cause cancer, including mouth and throat cancer. Smoking is also linked to
- Gum disease
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Lung disease
- Problems with pregnancy
- Birth defects (including cleft lip and/or cleft palate)
Smoking can cause stains that can only be removed by a licensed dental professional.
What Happens to Your Mouth When You Use Tobacco?
(Contact Rapha Dental, best cosmetic dentist in South Jersey for questions)
Overall, tobacco can negatively affect all parts of your overall health, including your oral health. It can lead to gum disease and tooth loss. Your teeth and tooth-colored fillings can become brown and stained. You can also have bad breath that doesn’t go away and can get mouth sores. Using tobacco also slows down healing after dental treatments.
Do you have questions? Contact Rapha Dental, best cosmetic dentist in South Jersey at 856-829-8668.
Other Forms of Tobacco
E-Cigarettes and Vaping Devices
Many people are turning to e-cigarettes and vaping devices because they believe they are a safer and healthier choice than traditional tobacco products. But, there is no current evidence to show that e-cigarettes and vaping devices are any safer than regular tobacco products.
Some of the same toxic ingredients that are in cigarettes have also been found in the vapor of e-cigarettes. There are thousands of brands and types of vaping liquids on the market and there is little regulation on the levels of carcinogens. They all have different amounts of nicotine in them, so there isn’t a clear way to know what chemicals and how much nicotine you are inhaling every time you vape.
Smokeless Tobacco
Smokeless tobaccos (also called chewing tobacco, spit, dip, snuff, snus or chew) contains more than 3,000 chemicals. That includes at least 28 cancer-causing ingredients. You may think that “smokeless” means “harmless,” but this is not true. Any kind of tobacco can harm your health.
In fact, if you use smokeless tobacco, you can take in a large amount of nicotine and cancer-causing chemicals without even lighting up.
People swallow the nicotine in smokeless tobacco or absorb through blood vessel in the mouth. This makes it very addictive and hard to quit.
Waterpipes (Hookahs)
Smoking waterpipes, or hookahs, has been linked to many of the same health problems as smoking cigarettes. They also pack a tobacco punch. A hookah smoking session could last as long as 60 minutes.
There are many types of hookah tobacco available. So you can’t know how much nicotine and other dangerous chemicals are in it every time you smoke. Water filtration does not limit the harmful effects of tobacco.
Why Quit Using Tobacco? Ask best cosmetic dentist in South Jersey!
- Your mouth can be healthier. Quitting tobacco can lower your risk for gums that pull away from your teeth, gum disease, bone loss of the jaw and tooth loss.
- You may look and feel better. Bad breath, drooling and stained teeth that cannot be cleaned by brushing are all results of using tobacco.
- You will save money. The amount you spend each week on tobacco can add up to hundreds, even thousands, of dollars a year.
- You will set a healthy example. Be a role model for your family and friends, especially children. You may even inspire others to give up tobacco when you quit.
- Here are some tips from the best cosmetic dentist in South Jersey
Tips to Quit Tobacco from best cosmetic dentist in South Jersey
- Make a list of your own personal reasons for quitting
- Set a date to quit in the near future and stick to it. Choose a “low stress” time to quit.
- Don’t do it alone. Ask your dentist, physician, family, friends and coworkers for their support in helping you quit.
- Ask your dentist or physician about products that may help your body gradually get used to life without nicotine.
- Find a healthy substitute when you have a tobacco craving, such as sugarless gum, sugar free hard candy, sunflower seeds or carrot sticks.
- Think about the 4 Ds when you crave tobacco:
- Delay-the craving will pass in 5~10 minutes
- Drink Water-it gives you something to hold in your hands and put in your mouth.
- Do something else-distract yourself by being active.
- Deep breathing-slow, deep breathing in and out will help relax you.
Resources to Quit Tobacco (recommended by best cosmetic dentist in South Jersey)
This website provides a Step-By-Step Quit Guide and other tools to help you quit.
This website provides stories and tips on how to quit from former smokers.
This website has resources to help you quit, like access to Quit lines and the quit START app.
National Network of Tobacco Cessation Quit lines
1-800-QUITNOW (1-800-784-8669)
1-800-332-8645
Callers can speak with a counselor in your state, as well as receive information and referrals to other helpful sources.
Advice from the Best cosmetic dentist in South Jersey
Rapha Dental is the best cosmetic dentist in South Jersey. If you want to regain your beautiful smile and help with smoking, contact us.
You can call us at 856-829-8668 or book an appointment online yourself.
We look forward to meeting with you!
Copyright @ American Dental Association