As a strong proponent of good oral health, Specialist Dental Group supports the World Health Organization (WHO) in marking the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) which happens every year on 31 May.
Every puff of smoke that enters one’s body passes through one’s lips, tongue, teeth and gums, causing the following oral health problems:
- Oral Cancer
According to WHO, the risk of oral cancer for smokers is five to ten times higher than people who have never smoked. For smokers who also drink alcohol, this figure is further multiplied. As the symptoms of oral cancer are usually painless and not noticeable to an untrained eye, many cases are not discovered until they are at the advanced stages. Therefore, it is important to have regular 6-monthly visits to your dentist. This will help maintain good oral hygiene and early oral cancer detection, and save you cost, pain and psychological trauma. - Gum Disease
Smoking promotes the buildup of plaque and tartar, increasing the rate at which gum and bone tissue are destroyed. It also causes a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream, hindering the healing process of the infected gums, eventually leading to tooth loss. - Bad Breath
When over 4,000 chemicals pass through one’s mouth, many of them end up sticking to places like the teeth, gum, tongue and side of the cheeks, causing the mouth to be a thriving place for bacteria to grow. Furthermore, smoking dries up one’s mouth. Saliva is stopped from flowing continuously and prevented from cleaning out the bacteria in one’s mouth. - Stained Teeth
Tar and nicotine leave unattractive yellow stains on one’s teeth. Over time, this discolouration can seep into tiny cracks in the tooth enamel causing the stain to be permanent.
By quitting, one can lower the risk of having the above oral health problems. The risk of many other health problems such as heart disease, weak respiratory system, infertility, erectile dysfunction and various types of cancer will also be reduced.
There are a few ways to quit smoking – cold turkey, gradual reduction, nicotine replacement therapy, prescription drugs and smoking cessation services that are available at polyclinics, selected hospitals and organisations such as Singapore Heart Foundation and Singapore Cancer Society.
We know that quitting is hard, but a healthy body is worth the effort. So keep going and don’t give up! Specialist Dental Group is behind you!
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