Lung cancer awareness is essential to the health of millions, and smoking is a common and avoidable cause. The Great American Smokeout takes place on November 21st. It was established by the American Cancer Society to not only raise awareness of the dangers of smoking, but also to provide you with the tools to quit.
With lung cancer being such a prevalent medical problem, it’s easy for people to overlook the many issues that smoking poses for the rest of their body, including its effects on their dental health. During this important event this month, let’s take the time to explore the long-term damage smoking has on your teeth, gums, and jaws, and how it can be managed.
Whether your gum and tooth issues are due to smoking or other causes, Dr. Adam Nusblatt and his medical team at Nusblatt Dental are here to help East Village and Manhattan residents manage these issues and improve their dental health.
A long-term smoking habit affects almost every system in your body, with the combination of carcinogens and addictive nicotine contributing to problems that include:
Years of smoking can affect your eyes, leading to problems like glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration.
The lung damage goes beyond the cancer that most people are aware of. You also deal with chronic coughing, loss of lung tissue, and a higher risk of other respiratory conditions like pneumonia, tuberculosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The harm the habit causes in these areas alters their structure, leading to premature aging, skin damage, wrinkles, hair loss, and an increase in fungal nail infections.
As many as 25% of cardiovascular disease-related deaths in America stem from the effects of smoking, as it damages your heart, blood vessels, and arteries.
The obvious clues of smoking are yellowing in your teeth and nails, but the oral damage is far-reaching. Among the many digestive problems it causes, smoking also leads to:
Smoking is a complicated habit to quit, and while we can’t help you navigate that difficult process, our services can keep your teeth as healthy as possible while you go through it. Cavities and tooth decay that result can be managed with fillings, crowns, and root canals. If tooth loss occurs, we can use dental implants.
Yellowing and other cosmetic issues are treatable with teeth whitening, and deep cleanings can help manage gum disease and related problems such as halitosis. Laser surgery can help reshape gums, remove tooth decay, and perform oral surgery if necessary.
Smoking does a lot of dental damage over time, but if you’re struggling with problems caused by it, we’re here to help. Make an appointment with Dr. Nusblatt and the Nusblatt Dental team today to keep your teeth and gums at their healthiest.
