DR. DIPILLA IS NOW It is no surprise that smoking is bad for your health, so it goes without saying that smoking has negative consequences for the oral cavity as well. Aside from the obvious fact that tobacco causes bad breath, it causes a litany of problems for the teeth, gums, bone and surrounding tissue. For one, smoking causes tenacious staining on the teeth, that can pose a cosmetic challenge. Smoking also leads to decreased immunity which plays a huge factor in contributing to advanced periodontal disease. The end result of this habit is tooth loss at best and oral cancer at worst. You especially want to avoid smoking after any kind of dental surgery as it can delay healing and lead to painful infections. Quitting is the only way to decrease your risk of these and other tobacco-related health problems.
