According to Webmd, smoking is not only harmful to the lungs and cardiovascular system but also has serious consequences for oral health. One of the most common problems in smokers is unpleasant breathing.
Cigarette smoke contains thousands of chemicals, many of which are odor-causing, attached to the mucous membranes of the mouth and tongue, making the breath have a characteristic smell that is difficult to remove, even with regular oral hygiene.
In addition, cigarettes also cause tooth discoloration and yellowing. Nicotine and tar are absorbed into tooth enamel, turning tooth loss yellow or brown, directly affecting aesthetics and communication confidence. Tooth whitening in smokers is often less effective than in non-smokers.
Smoking also increases plaque and tooth decay. The oral environment has changed, creating conditions for bacteria to thrive. Smokers often have more tooth decay, making it difficult to clean them with regular toothbrushes. Long-term tooth decay can lead to inflammation and periodontal disease.
Another serious consequence is loss of jawline bones, causing teeth to shake and fall off easily. Nicotine reduces blood flow to the advantageous bones and jaw bones, causing weak tooth support tissue. Smokers are at a much higher risk of tooth decay, leading to early tooth loss.
In particular, smoking increases the risk of white blood cells - white or gray patches on the mouth lining that cannot be scraped. This is precancerous damage, which can progress to oral cancer if not detected and treated promptly.
Effective ways to quit smoking
Before you start quitting smoking, you need to reduce your daily cigarette intake. We should only reduce it, not stop it immediately because it is difficult for anyone to give up their habit in one day.
In addition, quitting smoking suddenly will be dangerous to your physical and mental health, so you should be patient with the correct process. After about a week of limiting cigarettes, from 1 pack to 10 cigarettes, and finally 1 cigarette per day and gradually going through the stage of quitting completely. At this time, you can reduce your cravings for medicine with the following methods:
- Eat in moderation: Eating plenty of fruits like apples, bananas, pears, grapes and oranges, the mildly sweet and sour taste of the fruit will help improve your taste.
Supplementing green vegetables, vegetables such as carrots, celery, broccoli is both nutritious for the body and helps restore oral health...
- Entertainment and sports activities to forget the cravings for cigarettes
- When you crave medicine, you can brush your teeth or use mouthwash. You should choose foods with a strong scent such as mint, green tea, ... Clean mouth and fresh breath will greatly reduce your cravings for medicine.
- Pre-prepared snacks and Sips when craving cigarettes
- Having a companion by your side
- Throw away all tobacco-related tools in your home.
