If you still smoke or use tobacco, the joke’s on you. Tobacco is not only bad for your overall health – it puts your dental health in jeopardy too.
Statistics don’t lie. About 1 in every 5 deaths is linked to tobacco use, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 480,000 Americans die annually because they’ve smoked cigarettes.
It gets worse. According to the CDC:
- Nine out of 10 people (90%) who die from lung cancer have smoked cigarettes.
- More than 80% of people who die from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were smokers.
- Smokers are more likely to suffer from heart disease, stroke and cancer than those who don’t smoke.
Smoking is also bad for your teeth and gums – not to mention your smile.
Want to look older and unattractive? Keep using tobacco. It makes your teeth yellow, gives you bad breath and increases your risk for gum disease and oral cancer.
The proof is in. Smoking and other tobacco use attacks the gums, causing soreness and bleeding. It can also put people at risk for tooth loss. The sugars that give taste to smokeless tobacco can also lead to tooth decay. Pipes and cigars aren’t any better. They can cause bone and tooth loss.
So don’t be a fool! Quit now. Learn more about how smoking is bad for your teeth and gums.
