October is Dental Hygiene Month. We haven’t talked about tobacco’s impact on dental health yet. So this post is dedicated to that!

Note: the first video below shows the impacts of skin grafts and surgery to treat oral cancer. If you don’t want to see those, consider skipping it.

Source: CDC’s Tips from a Former Smoker, Christine (CDC: Tips From Former Smokers – Christine B.: Oral Cancer Effects – YouTube)

Did You Know?

• Many tobacco products, including cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, cause:
  • Oral cancer
  • Gum disease
  • Tooth Loss
  • Staining of the teeth/tongue
  • Increased loss of bone within the jaw
  • Increased buildup of plaque and tartar
  • Lower success of dental implants
  • Slow healing after periodontal treatment, tooth extraction, or other surgery
  • Decrease the amount of dental treatment options available
• Those over 65 years old and who smoke are 2x more likely to have untreated tooth decay.
• 43% of those over 65 years old and who currently smoke cigarettes have lost all of their teeth.
• Untreated tooth decay is higher in those who smoke cigarettes (40% of those between 20-65 years of age and currently smoke have untreated tooth decay.

What About E-Cigarettes?

Like with other systems of the body, long term impacts are still be studied. Here’s some of what the current evidence suggests:

• E-cigarettes can change the oral microbiome in ways that are different from people who smoke cigarettes and those who don’t smoke.
• E-cigarettes can lead to gum disease. The study suggests it’s at a lower rate than cigarettes, but higher than not smoking.
• They can cause burns in the mouth. This could be due to heat of the mouthpiece when using an e-cigarette in addition to explosions.
• The aerosol can lead to tooth discoloration.
• The aerosol can increase the amount of dental caries due to some of the chemicals in it.

Marijuana and Oral Health

As with e-cigarettes, marijuana’s impacts is still being studied. Most studies currently show associations at this point. These associations include:

• Dry mouth and white patches on the tongue, gums, or inside the cheeks
  • These white patches may become oral cancer
• Possible increased risk of caries and periodontal disease
• Increased risk of inflammation associated with oral mucositis
• Periodontal complications
• Increased risk of mouth and neck cancer

Source: Tips From a Former Smoker, Brett (CDC: Tips From Former Smokers – Brett P.’s Story – YouTube)

Resources

• Oral Cancer Self-Exam: short video that shows how to conduct a self-exam for signs for oral cancer
• Adults Wanting to Quit:
  • Alaska Quitline: Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or text READY to 34191
  • Freedom From Smoking: join online, on your own, or in-person (in areas where there are facilitators)
  • VA Quitline: veteran’s call 1-855-QUIT-VET
• Teens Wanting to Quit:
  • Live Vape Free: text VAPEFREE to 873373
  • Not for ME: participate online
  • Teen Cessation Resources: flyer from the American Lung Association promoting additional teen cessation resources
• General Resources for Help:
  • Home | Smokefree: general tips for going or staying smokefree. Specific resources for Veteran’s, Women, Teens, Older Adults (60+), and Spanish Speaking (Habla Español)
  • Find Help and Treatment | SAMHSA: find help for mental and substance use disorders.
  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 if you’re experiencing a crisis or helping someone who is experiencing a crisis.

References

1. Tobacco Use (cdc.gov)
2. How smoking affects your oral health | Delta Dental (deltadentalins.com)
3. Effects of Smoking on Teeth and Gums | Cigna Dental Health
4. Evidence Grows for Vaping’s Role in Gum Disease | ASM.org
5. E-cigarette temperature may affect oral health by changing properties of inhaled aerosols | American Dental Association (ada.org)
6. Cannabis and Its Impact on Oral Health | College of Dentistry | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)
7. Cannabis: Oral Health Effects | American Dental Association (ada.org)