Leukoplakia
A white patch on the skin inside the mouth that cannot be wiped off. This lesion is more frequent in tobacco users and may develop into cancer. Regular examinations will ensure that any lesion is identified and managed accordingly.
Smoking can have major effects on the health of your gums, teeth, mouth and throat.
About 20% of the Australian population are current smokers. Most people start the habit in their teens. Smoking is a major cause of many health problems including heart and lung disease, stroke, poor pregnancy outcomes and oral disease.
Smoking facts
Smoking produces smoke which is drawn directly into the mouth. Approximately 4000 chemicals, 60 of which are carcinogenic, have been identified in this smoke. These include carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide and reactive oxidising radicals.
Some problems caused by smoking are obvious, such as stained teeth and bad breath. However, smoking is one of the greatest and most preventable risk factors for more severe oral disease including oral cancer, mouth lesions, gum disease, tooth decay, and cleft lip and palate.
Gum disease
Healthy gums are pink and firm. Good circulation of blood is required to bring oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and remove waste products. This is also an important defence against infection.
Smoking disrupts this process. Smoker’s gums are often thickened and may vary in colour from unusually pale to purplish in severe cases. These changes are due to the effect smoking has in restricting the vessels and therefore reducing the supply of blood and oxygen to the tissues. This often masks the severity of gum disease.
Smokers are up to 6 times more likely to develop gum disease than non-smokers and are at a greater risk of tooth loss.
Oral cancer
Studies have reported tobacco smokers as having a 3-5 times greater risk of oral cancer than that of non-smokers. Many early signs of oral cancer are painless and difficult to detect without a professional examination. The later the diagnosis f oral cancer, the greater the spread to other parts of the body.
Signs and symptoms of oral cancer:
- Sores in the mouth that bleed easily and fail to heal.
- Persistent white or red patches in the mouth.
- Lumps or soreness in the mouth, throat or tongue.
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing,
- Changes in occlusion or “bite”.
Other conditions caused by smoking
Hairy tongue
An overgrowth and thickening of papillae on the top surface of the tongue, which turns brown to black. Trapped bacteria may produce a burning sensation, foul taste or smell from the tongue.
Smoker’s palate
A condition where the roof of the mouth develops a thick white discolouration with red dots. This is due to the narrowing of the blood vessels from the nicotine and resolves when the smoker quits.
Smoker’s melanosis
A dark discolouration on the skin of the mouth. In most cases, this resolves when the smoker quits.
Tobacco stains
These can penetrate into tooth enamel and dentures, causing discolouration. Whilst there are ways to whiten teeth, sometimes this form of discolouration can be permanent.
Tooth decay
Smoking reduces the amount of saliva in the mouth, which aids in clearance of food and bacteria from the mouth, and neutralises the acids that cause tooth decay. Without saliva, the crown and root surfaces of teeth are at greater risk of developing holes.
Problems after dental treatment
Smoking often causes:
- Complications after tooth extraction.
- Slower healing after gum disease treatment.
- Failure of dental implants.
How to quit smoking
- Ask your dentist, doctor or pharmacist for individually tailored advice.
- Phone QUITLINE 137 848 (13 QUIT).
- Get a free Quit Pack from the Quitline.
- Sign up to QuitCoach.
- Consider the use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). In Australia there are various forms available such as patches, gum, inhaler and lozenges.
- Medications are available from your doctor that may assist in quitting smoking.
- Remember that NRT and medications work by reducing withdrawal symptoms such as cravings, irritability, mood swings and anxiety. However, they usually don’t stop withdrawal symptoms altogether.
- Set yourself achievable goals and do not be discouraged by short term relapses
