According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 34 million American adults smoke cigarettes. While the number of U.S. smokers has declined over the past several years, the health risks associated with smoking still remain. Many people know that smoking has negative health consequences such as lung cancer, but your dentist in Reston also wants to make sure our patients and neighbors know that smoking has been linked to several oral health concerns, and it doesn’t take long for those problems to happen.
Cigarettes, as well as cigars, chewing tobacco, and pipe tobacco, have all been linked to several serious health concerns. Why? These products contain dangerous ingredients, such as toxins (which are poisonous), carcinogens (which cause cancer), and nicotine (which leads to addiction). This combination can not only make tobacco products dangerous, but it can also make them difficult to quit.
The answer to this is – it depends. Variables such as your current oral health, diet, how much you smoke, and how often you light up can determine how long it takes for smoking to affect oral health. However, it’s important to know that in as little as one week of smoking, your oral health may become noticeably compromised. But negative side effects can occur even after lighting up your first cigarette.
Smoking can lead to a whole host of health problems, such as heart disease, lung problems, and even death. When it comes to oral health, let’s see what your dentist in Reston has to say about the oral health side effects of smoking.
Smoking and any other type of tobacco use can affect oral health quickly, and the longer tobacco is used, the more the risk increases. Work with your dentist and your doctor, and use these tools from the American Cancer Society to help you devise a plan to quit today.
We have dental offices across Northern Virginia, including in Manassas, Reston, Gainesville, Fairfax, and Herndon. Call the dentist closest to you to schedule an appointment today!