Everyone knows the terrible effect of smoking on our lungs, but these are not the only organs affected by nicotine consumption. Our mouth, with its tongue, teeth and gums, is the area that is most in contact with the cigar and its smoke and, therefore, the great harmed of its effect. We tell you what are the most common damages that tobacco causes in your mouth.

More yellow teeth

It is the most obvious and unsightly sign of a smoker. It is caused by the effect of smoke on the enamel of the pieces and is very difficult to solve even using whitening toothpastes. Whitening treatments have less effect as well.

Halitosis more frequent

Halitosis is a periodontal disease whose origin involves many factors: poor diet, poor hygiene, genetic factors … and tobacco! Cigarettes give our breath a very characteristic and unpleasant odor for many people but, in addition, in the case of patients with halitosis their bad smell increases when smoking mainly by the action of tar. Tobacco also dries the mucous membranes of the mouth and respiratory and digestive tracts and causes less saliva to be generated, which helps lubricate the mouth and release it from the bad aroma.

Reduction of the senses of taste and smell

It is shown that smoking increasingly limits our ability to smell and taste. Have you ever heard an ex-smoker comment that food tastes much better since he turned off the last cigarette? The big problem is that nicotine reduces the perception of salty flavors, something that can increase our blood pressure indirectly if we cook with too much salt because everything tastes bland.

Sick gums

Smokers are three times more likely to develop gum diseases, such as gingivitis or periodontitis. And in addition, the action of the tobacco on the gums causes that these are weaker, the circulation arrives worse to them and it is shown whitish and they do not bleed with the brushed ones. This, which may seem like an advantage, is apparently a great inconvenience. Gum bleeding is the symptom that alerts patients and dentists to detect and treat any gum disease. If yours does not bleed, you will not check them and your periodontitis may be detected too late.

Worse scars

The same reason makes a smoker’s mouth less favorable for carrying out any dental surgery. The fillings have more risk of infection, gum grafts and implants have failure rates twice as many as in non-smokers and the healing and healing processes are longer, precisely because of that lack of blood flow in the mouth caused by the tobacco.

Increased risk of oral cancer

We all know that cigarette smoking is behind most cases of lung cancer (not all). But in addition to raising the risk of suffering from this disease, tobacco also makes us more prone to cancer of the tongue and larynx.

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