Smoking is associated with tooth loss. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, men who smoke could lose almost three teeth for every 10 years of smoking while women could lose 1.5 teeth for the same period. Repeated studies affirm that smokers are twice as likely to lose their teeth as people who do not smoke.
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The connection between smoking and tooth loss could be explained by the fact that smoking poses a strong risk for periodontitis or inflammation of the tissue around the teeth. Most teeth are lost due to tooth decay, severe gum disease, or chronic periodontitis. Continuous smoking will worsen the risk of these dental problems, resulting in tooth loss.
People with periodontitis may not notice the disease during its early stages. One of the most important symptoms of the malady is gum bleeding, but smoking can mask this symptom. By the time many smokers start suspecting that they have periodontitis, it is too late. They are already at a high risk of losing their teeth.
Studies have found that the risk of losing teeth among smokers is dose-dependent, which means that heavy smokers face higher risks for tooth loss than light smokers who smoke only a few cigarettes each day.
Smokers should quit their habit as soon as possible to avoid serious dental problems. Smoking is also associated with a slew of other health concerns such as cardiovascular diseases, lung problems, and cancer.
Tooth loss associated with periodontitis can be very expensive to remedy. You will have to install a bridge or have a tooth implant, both of which can be time consuming and costly. If you do not do anything after tooth loss, your remaining teeth could shift to fill the vacant space.
If you are not able to quit smoking on your own, seek out help. If you are a Kaysville resident and already have smoking-related dental problems, consult your dentist in Kaysville for a proper solution.