Our first thought on the question of “Is there anything worse for your teeth than tobacco” was “maybe a hammer and chisel.” But that isn’t exactly a fair comparison, as we can’t think of anyone who would willingly subject their teeth to a good breaking with a hammer. And yet, people willingly use tobacco products, often quite eagerly. Smoking leads to all kinds of problems, including bad breath, tooth discoloration, increased plaque/tartar on the teeth, increased risk of gum disease, and increased risk of developing oral cancer to name a few! For a complete list, please look at the excellent articles on WebMD http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/smoking-oral-health.
Our office has always taken the approach that most smokers/tobacco chewers understand that their habit is not good for them. We work hard to accept our patients in whatever dental health they come to us. You should never receive a lecture from us. We will, however, offer to help a patient in tailoring a program to help them stop smoking/chewing tobacco if they would like assistance. We have found that some of the new medications have been helpful in assisting a patient to break the habit. If fear is helpful in stopping, take a look at some of the photos of the oral cancer consequences of tobacco use. They are not for those with weak stomachs. It may be why you find so few tobacco users in the dental profession. As always, we are here to help with all your dental needs.
Making smiles happen,
Your Davidson Family Dentistry team
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