The Most Universal Bad Dental Health Habit...
Smoking is a deadly addiction. It kills more than 400,000 Americans each year. There are MANY serious consequences of smoking...not just lung cancer! They include:
- Losing an average of 14 years of life.
- Turning your teeth yellow due to tar deposits.
- Turning your fingers yellow
- Bad breath
- Second-hand smoke hurts those around you
- Smoking encourgages periodontal (gum) disease
- Smoking delays healing after any dental treaament and can lead to a condition known as "dry socket" after oral surgery
- "Black hariy tongue"
- Oral cancer of the mouth, pharynx, larynx and esophagus
- Smokeless tobacco use leads to generalized early-onset periodontitis (gum disease) and an increased risk for oral cancer
- Loss of taste
- Less success with dental implants
What You Can Do
- Stop Smoking and Chewing tobacco
- Regular Checkups
- Use Ultrasonic toothbrush twice a day
- Floss daily
- Tobacco Quitline Information
Words of Wisdom...
In order to protect your heart, it's crucial that you avoid periodontal disease by keeping your teeth and gums free of plaque and tartar (calculus). Brush thoroughly after each meal, floss each and every day, and keep your regular dental visits for cleanings and continued homecare evaluation and instructions.
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