The Oral Health Case for Quitting Tobacco
Tobacco and nicotine use takes a serious toll on oral health. Quitting can help your mouth, and your whole body, start to heal.
Most people know tobacco and nicotine use can be harmful for your lungs and heart. But they may be surprised to learn how much damage these products can do inside your mouth. The first things you may think of, like bad breath or yellowed teeth, are real problems, but they are also just the beginning.
Tobacco use in any form exposes you to more serious oral health risks including gum disease, tooth loss, sores, and oral cancer. The good news is that quitting makes a real difference, and that difference is often noticeable sooner than you might expect.
Cigarettes, Gum Disease, and the Path Back
Smoking is one of the leading risk factors for serious oral conditions, including gum disease, oral cancer, and sores. The Journal of Dental Education reports that half of all gum disease cases in the United States and three-quarters of all oral cancers are a direct result of smoking. Cigarette use also significantly raises the risk of cavities and tooth loss.
The good news? You have the power to reverse this: former smokers show lower rates of serious gum disease than people who keep smoking, and the risks of oral cancer and gum disease keep declining the longer you stay quit. Your mouth starts working toward recovery.
Smokeless Tobacco: Different Product, Real Risks
Smokeless tobacco carries serious risks of its own. People who use chewing tobacco or snuff are at four to six times greater risk of developing cancers of the mouth and throat compared to non-users, according to the Journal of Dental Education. These products also contain high levels of cancer-causing compounds, and their high sugar content contributes to tooth decay. Users are far more likely to develop painful sores and white lesions in their mouths, which can be where oral cancers develop.
Recovery can come quickly, though. Research has found that nearly all smokeless tobacco-related mouth lesions resolved within six weeks of quitting. Stopping also ends the ongoing damage to the gums that comes from placing tobacco directly against them, which helps protect the roots of teeth from decaying any further or becoming more sensitive and painful.
E-Cigarettes and Oral Health, Impacting Florida’s Youth
E-cigarettes are relatively new, but are another source of nicotine. In fact, they are by far the most common way youth across Florida come into contact with nicotine today.
Vaping encourages the growth of harmful bacteria in the mouth that cause gum disease, and e-cigarette users show a greater risk of gum disease than people who have never smoked. Adults who both smoke cigarettes and vape face an even higher risk of oral health problems than those who only smoke. Vape cartridges contain flavorings with sugar that contribute to tooth decay, along with other harmful substances including heavy metals.
Even products labeled as “nicotine-free” have been found to contain some level of nicotine.
Adults involved in the lives of Florida youth should be especially aware of these risks. While there has been great progress in reducing the youth cigarette smoking rate – to fewer than 1% of Florida youth today – e-cigarette use remains a real concern with 7.7% of Florida students ages 11-17 currently using the electronic devices.
As you may have guessed by now, the good news is that quitting vaping can bring a healthy and happy smile to your mouth. Removing nicotine and other chemicals supports healthier gums and reduces the risk of serious gum disease. Quitting can also help restore the mouth’s natural balance of healthy bacteria, reducing the risk of infection. Help the youth and young adults in your life understand the health risks associated with e-cigarettes and the benefits of quitting.
Your Mouth Is Connected to Everything
Good oral health is about more than your teeth and gums. It is closely linked to your overall health, including your risk of diabetes, heart and lung disease, and stroke. Quitting tobacco is one of the most meaningful steps you can take for your mouth, and the benefits reach well beyond it.
The sooner you quit, the sooner your body can begin to heal. And when you are ready to take that step, you do not have to take it alone.
Free Help Is Available
Tobacco Free Florida offers free tools and services proven to help, including one-on-one coaching, group quit programs, web-based quit plans, and access to nicotine replacement therapy where medically appropriate. More than 350,000 Floridians have already successfully quit tobacco using these free services.
For free help, call 1-877-U-CAN-NOW (877-822-6669) or visit TobaccoFreeFlorida.com/QuitYourWay.
Quitting tobacco may be the single best thing you can do for your health. Your mouth will thank you, and so will the rest of you! If you are ready to take that step, Tobacco Free Florida is here to make it happen.
The Florida Department of Health also has dental resources available throughout the state. To learn more, visit FloridaHealth.gov/Individual-Family-Health/Dental-Health.
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