Thursday, October 11, 2007

Smoking and Oral Health

Tobacco's Effect on The Mouth

  • Oral cancer
  • Bad breath or halitosis
  • Black hairy tongue
  • Gum recession - especially with chewing tobacco, the gums recede away from where you place the tobacco, exposing the roots
  • Delayed healing of the gums
  • Increased severity of periodontal disease
  • Nicotinic stomatitis (smoker's palate) - inflammation of salivary gland openings on the roof of the mouth
  • Staining
  • Tar deposits remaining on the teeth