[Medical Q&A] What kind of damage does smoking cause to the oral cavity?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Xiao Dan, Researcher, China-Japan Friendship Hospital

Smoking has negative effects on oral health in many ways.

Nicotine and tar in tobacco can cause the surface of teeth to turn yellow or black, which not only affects the appearance of teeth, but also affects personal confidence and social activities. Various harmful substances in tobacco can cause long-term local burning and chemical stimulation of the gums, causing the stratum corneum of the gingival epithelium to thicken and the blood vessels under the mucosa to become congested, leading to long-term chronic inflammation of the gums. Long-term smokers have deeper periodontal pockets (the gap between the gums and teeth, which is easy to accumulate bacteria and food residues) and more obvious alveolar bone loss than non-smokers, and more parts of periodontal disease are affected. Smoking causes hypoxia in the mouth, which provides favorable conditions for the growth and reproduction of anaerobic bacteria in dental plaque (a layer of film attached to the surface of teeth). Anaerobic bacteria will multiply and metabolize vigorously in an oxygen-deficient environment. They themselves and their metabolites have a strong destructive power on periodontal tissues. Over time, they will cause periodontitis or aggravate the symptoms of periodontitis. Smoking reduces saliva secretion and causes dry mouth. Once the mouth lacks saliva, the self-cleaning ability will be greatly reduced, thus causing bad breath. Smoking may also cause white spots on the oral mucosa, which is a potential precancerous lesion. In addition, smoking will affect the treatment of dental diseases, reduce the healing ability of oral tissues, and prolong the recovery time of treatment. Smoking is harmful to health and has a great impact on the oral cavity. Only by quitting smoking and maintaining good oral hygiene habits can you improve oral health and reduce the risk of oral diseases.