Today’s question: I caught my 17 year old daughter smoking. I’ve told her about the smell and all the damage it will do to her body. How is it going to affect her teeth? Sandy, Bourbon.
Yes, Sandy, smoking will affect her teeth, as well as the rest of your daughter’s mouth.
There are serious consequences associated with smoking and oral health, even more so if the smoker is young when beginning this addictive and health threatening practice.
It is important that you make every effort to get her to stop before she does irreversible harm to her body in many ways.
I assume that you have already told her about the risks of lung cancer, wrinkled skin, shorter life span, breathing problems, and the effect of smoking on her yet to be conceived and unborn children.
Those risks should be enough to give her second thoughts about going along with her peers who smoke.
The major risk to oral health is oral cancer that kills an amount of people equal to the population of Warsaw each year. Sadly, 41,000 people will be diagnosed with, and over 12,500 people die each year because of oral cancer, and it is the only cancer that has not improved it’s five year survival rate in the last 30 years.
Many oral cancer victims spend the last years of their lives unable to talk or taste because they have had their tongue removed.
If you smoke or use smokeless tobacco, you are at a much higher risk for oral cancer.
Yes, even that “pinch between your cheek and gum” can lead to gum disease, tooth loss and oral cancer. And, oral cancer is not just confined to the mouth.
Tobacco usage also is the cause of cancer of the pharynx, larynx (voice box) and esophagus.
During your bi-annual visit to your dentist, make sure he checks your daughter and as well as you for this serious form of cancer.
Be sure if she or you have any form of persistent mouth irritation or discolored area, that you bring those areas to your dentist’s attention, even if it doesn’t hurt.
In addition to oral cancer, tobacco users are more likely to experience gum disease.
Usually this disease, which ultimately results in tooth loss, is more severe in tobacco users than it is in non-tobacco users. Periodontal disease (gum disease) progresses slowly with few symptoms and is caused by plaque and tartar.
However, it is made more serious when using tobacco products. Other causes of gum disease can include anemia or poor diet.
When discovered, early treatment can reverse the early stages of gum disease and this treatment by your dentist can help people keep their natural, pleasing smile and their teeth.
However, continued tobacco usage encourages plaque formation, which encourages gum disease, which encourages tooth loss. The only sure way to prevent tobacco caused oral problems is to stop using tobacco products! Many things that could be described as “dirt on the teeth” cause gum disease.
The “dirt” normally comes from everyday living and is caused by the food we eat that is being “snacked” on by the bacteria in our mouth.
That’s why we floss, use mouth rinses, and brush our teeth, as a way to remove the plaque and bacteria before it causes cavities and gum disease. Interestingly enough there are several varieties of bacteria in our mouth, some of which cause more problems than others.
The “good” bacteria are destroyed by the carbon monoxide and other chemicals in tobacco smoke, leaving only the “bad” bacteria to cause the development of periodontal disease.
If all of these warnings weren’t enough, smoking will stain and dull your daughter’s teeth, taking away from her smile making it less radiant and attractive as well as costing her a lot of money for cigarettes.
You know, Sandy, I can’t think of any reason that your daughter should smoke, but many reasons that she shouldn’t go along with the crowd and smoke.
Sadly, even with the severe penalties against selling tobacco products to young people under 18, a recent “sting” operation in St. Joe County showed that over 12 percent of merchants had sold tobacco products to underage teenagers.
Even when there are heavy fines to the seller and the store, they do not prevent their sale. It takes parents like you to point out the dangers of tobacco use to their children and to discourage them from using it. I hope for your daughter’s sake that you are successful.
Dr. Bill Stofer is a practicing dentist in Warsaw, Indiana, and is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, American Dental Association, Indiana Dental Association, and the North Central Dental Society. He is a lifelong resident of the Warsaw area, a graduate of Warsaw Community High School, Hillsdale College, and the Indiana University School of Dentistry.
Do you have a question about this article or about any of your dental concerns for Dr. Bill? He can be reached at 574-269-1199. All questions will be answered and considered for future columns. Visit us online at www.dentalsolutions.net
