Smoking can lead to tooth staining, gum disease, tooth loss and in more severe cases, mouth cancer.  Most people know that smoking can cause lung and throat cancer, but many people are still unaware that it is one of the main causes of mouth cancer too.

Patients who smoke are much more likely to make bacterial plaque, this type of plaque can lead to gum disease.  The gums are affected because smoking causes a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream, so the infected gums cannot heal.  Gum disease still remains the most common cause of tooth loss in adults.

People who smoke may also find they are more likely to have bad breath than non-smokers.  Fresh breath products such as mints, mouthwashes and gum may help to disguise the problem but only for the short term.

We will carry out a regular examinations to make sure your teeth, gums and oral health are healthy. We will also refer you to see our dental hygienist. Our dental hygienist will be able to advise you on how to thoroughly clean your teeth and our dental hygienist will also be able to monitor your oral health.