In today’s modern world, smoking and consuming alcohol are considered to be a part of contemporary living. However, anything in excess always has harmful outcomes. The same thing holds for smoking and alcohol. Although alcohol and smoking give you a kind of enjoyment and refreshment for some time, their regular consumption results are devastating, especially for your oral health.
You might wonder how can alcohol and smoking affect your oral health. Well, every part of your body is connected. You are going to smoke and consume alcohol through your mouth. This is where oral health comes into the picture, especially when you are a regular smoker and alcohol drinker.
This blog will tell you the harmful effects of smoking and alcohol on your oral health, and you will also get to know what measures you can take to save your oral health from getting affected by smoking and alcohol.
Effect of Smoking on Oral Health
Stained Teeth with a Foul Smell
If you have ever observed smokers’ teeth, you would always find them stained. These stains are caused due to continuous smoking. Cigarette is made from tobacco that contains nicotine and tar. These products are responsible for creating stains on your teeth. Stained teeth affect your smile also. Besides this, tobacco products are also accountable for foul smell, which makes you feel embarrassed while conversing in public.
Gum Disease
Gum disease has become a common oral health problem for smokers. The reason behind this is the higher level of nicotine present in cigarettes. Nicotine reduces the blood flow to your gums, which eventually weakens them. The gums act as a backbone for your teeth. Due to this connection between smoking and gum disease, the bone holding your tooth also weakens, ultimately resulting in the tooth falling.
Oral Cancer
One of the most critical effects of smoking on oral health is oral cancer. Continuous smoking reduces the saliva production in your mouth. This results in the impairment of various cells in your mouth, resulting in mouth cancer. Besides this, cigarettes contain tobacco, which is known for causing mouth cancer.
Effect of Alcohol on Your Oral Health
Dry Mouth
Saliva plays a vital role in your mouth. Saliva removes all kinds of food residue stuck in your mouth. Besides this, saliva also helps you chew and swallow your food appropriately. So, you can think how important saliva is for your mouth. However, everyday alcohol consumption reduces saliva production in your mouth, resulting in dry mouth. A dry mouth leads to numerous oral health problems like tooth decay and foul smell.
Tooth Decomposition
Regular alcohol consumption can quickly erode your teeth at a very young age. It might seem unbelievable, but it is true. Alcohol, including wine, contains various acidic components and high amounts of sugar. Regular intake of these acidic components wears out your tooth enamel, which is easily susceptible to acidic foods and beverages. The enamel protects your tooth from decaying, and its wearing out ultimately results in tooth decay.
High Chances of Oral Cancer
As per a recent study, an acidic beverage a day increases takes you one step forward toward oral cancer. As mentioned earlier, alcohol contains acidic components. Regular intake of such acidic beverages damages the lining of your mouth, which ultimately causes mouth cancer on your lips, teeth, or gums.
Measures to Protect Your Oral Health From Smoking and Alcohol
It is always said that smoking is harmful to health. Regular and frequent smoking causes cancer that can affect your life. Besides this, smoking also weakens your gums, which results in tooth decay. Tooth decay can cause problems with chewing food and speaking. Such dental issues are usually seen in old age. But, regular smoking can cause you to have such oral health problems at a younger age. That’s why quitting smoking becomes a great option to maintain your oral health for a more extended period.
Regular alcohol consumption, on the other hand, reduces saliva production, which could result in tooth decay and foul smell. Besides this, as alcohol contains higher levels of acidic components and sugar, it removes the tooth enamel, eradicating your teeth. One of the most significant harms of alcohol intake is oral cancer. Such consequences can be avoided if you consume alcohol in limited amounts occasionally instead of consuming it regularly.
Final Thoughts
While smoking and alcohol consumption might give you a feeling of freshness for some time, they become harmful to your oral hygiene. And one of the most dangerous effects of both smoking and alcohol is oral cancer. Besides this, smoking and alcohol have a great impact on your oral health, resulting in tooth decay, gum disease, and foul smell. That’s why avoiding smoking and alcohol will allow you to have a healthy and longer oral health.
However, for smokers and alcohol drinkers, it will be beneficial to get help from a well-experienced teeth care centre in Berwick. Woodleigh Waters Dental Surgery has become a one-stop solution for smokers and alcohol drinkers to maintain their oral hygiene. We even provide dental emergency care in case of any emergency.
You can reach out to us easily by searching “dental care centre near me” or “urgent dental care near me”.