Dr. Kami Hoss: How Smoking Affects Your Oral Health

Post date: Nov 03, 2017 6:49:8 PM

As if you needed another reason not to smoke, here comes a friendly reminder from dentist Dr. Kami Hoss — smoking causes a wide range of oral health problems. According to the World Health Organization, one of the biggest epidemics to hit the world is the tobacco epidemic. It is estimated that there are at least 1 billion people who smoke, and around 6 million people are killed by tobacco smoking every year. Additionally, there are close to 1 million people who are killed as result of exposure to second-hand smoke. Dr. Kami Hoss adds that before smoking can kill you, it can kill your oral health.

What Smoking Does to Your Oral Health

Smoking practically offers no benefit, yet many people find it hard to kick the habit. While that's another topic for another day by Dr. Kami Hoss, here is what you should know about smoking and its adverse effects on oral health. First, smoking can discolor teeth, one of your most important social assets. When you meet someone for the first time, the best thing you can do to start off on a good note is to smile at the person. However, if your teeth are stained due to your smoking, you may feel uncomfortable opening your mouth, and properly at that, because you're so embarrassed.

Next, smoking causes bad breath. What good are your pearly whites if you emit a foul smell when you open your mouth? This can be a major turn off. If you have bad breath, you may find that no one wants to talk to you. The longer you smoke, the higher the risk for developing smoker's breath. This is a distinct odor created by all the chemicals in cigarettes. Dr. Kami Hoss warns smokers that breath mints are not effective in getting rid of smoker's breath.

Did you know that smoking can also lead to a diminished sense of taste? That's right; as Dr. Kami Hoss explains, smoking dulls the taste buds. Whether you're a passionate foodie or a casual customer of your favorite fast food restaurant, the truth is that eating is one of life's simplest pleasures. And smoking does nothing to help you enjoy your food more. In fact, it does precisely the opposite, making food less palatable.

Finally, smoking can increase your risk for oral cancer. The World Health Organization estimates that there are 529,000 new cases of cancers of the oral activity every year, and more than 300,000 deaths. Dr. Kami Hoss notes that early diagnosis of oral cancer can lead to better patient outcomes. Therefore, it bears repeating that you should see your dentist regularly, at least every six months. Your dentist is an experienced examiner and will know immediately if something is amiss in your oral cavity.

Whether you smoke once a week or a whole pack every day, Dr. Kami Hoss urges you to kick the habit. On the other hand, if you haven't had your first cigarette and are meaning to try smoking, Dr. Kami Hoss reminds you to think twice about its consequences on your oral health.