SMOKING AND ORAL HEALTH

Smoking tobacco, or even chewing it, can cause a wide variety of problems which can adversely affect your oral and overall health. One of the more serious problems includes mouth cancer, which can kill you. Other conditions like severe gum disease, bad breath, hairy tongue and stained teeth, though not fatal are very important socially.

Mouth Cancer

Smoking or chewing tobacco is a major risk factor for mouth cancer. Over 90% of people who suffer from mouth cancer either smoke or chew tobacco. The statistics are alarming. In the UK, every year around 3800 new cases of mouth cancer are freshly diagnosed and each year more than 1700 people die from this disease.

The initial presentation of this disease maybe a painless ulcer or red/white patches in the mouth which neither heal nor go away. If diagnosed early enough there is a good chance that these can be treated. However, failure to diagnose these early enough can cause them to develop into cancer and the longer they go undetected, the lower the chance of recovery.

People who smoke and also drink heavily are up to 15 times more likely to suffer oral cancer than non smokers. You are also more at risk if you have a poor diet.

Other Effects

·         Reduced sense of taste and smell

·         Stained teeth

·         Bad breath (Halitosis)-heavy smoking causes a coating on the tongue which in turn causes or worsens bad breath.

·         There is decreased blood supply to the mouth which makes it harder for mouth wounds to heal which has serious implications particularly after surgery.

·         There is also increased risk of severe gum disease (Periodontitis). Periodontitis is an infection which causes resorption of the bone supporting the teeth, loosening of the teeth and you could end up losing your teeth. Statistics show that smokers are 3 times more likely to develop periodontitis than non smokers.

WHAT CAN BE DONE???

Many of the effects of smoking on your mouth are reversible and these will improve after quitting. Therefore it is clear that STOPPING smoking will greatly benefit the health of your mouth as well as your overall health.

Your dentist will assess the health of your mouth and he/she will give you advice on quitting smoking and maintaining your oral hygiene. Your dentist can discuss with you with you aids to help you stop smoking: for example, you are twice as likely to have success with the aid of a nicotine replacement as you are using will power alone. These products can be obtained by prescription or from your local pharmacy.

Where to get further advice and information

The NHS telephone help lines offer free, confidential advice on smoking and giving up.

ENGLAND

·         NHS Smoking Helpline-0800 169 0 169 (Lines open daily 7 am-11 pm)

·         NHS Pregnancy Smoking Helpline-0800 169 9 169 (Lines open daily 12 noon-9 pm)

·         NHS Asian Tobacco Help lines (Lines open every Tuesday from 1 pm-9 pm)

Urdu – 0800 169 0 881

Hindi – 0800 169 0 883

Bengali – 0800 169 0 885

Punjabi – 0800 169 0 882

Gujarati – 0800 169 0 884

SCOTLAND

·         Smokeline – 0800 84 84 84 (Lines open 12 noon to midnight, daily)

WALES

·         Smokers’ Helpline Wales – 0800 169 0 169 (Lines open daily 7 am to 11 pm)

NORTHERN IRELAND

·         Smoker’s Helpline – 0800 85 85 85 (Lines open 12 noon to midnight, daily)

Maintaining a healthy mouth

·         Do not smoke or chew tobacco. Your dentist can advise you how you can quit.

·         Do not drink more than the recommended maximum daily alcohol limit of 2-3 units for women and 3-4 units for men.

·         Brush your teeth twice daily, using a fluoride tooth paste.

·         Try to consume a balanced diet of at least 5 portions of fresh fruit and vegetables daily.

·         Visit your dentist regularly.