While the current percentage of Americans who smoke cigarettes is the lowest it’s been in decades, those who continue the habit remain at risk for heart and lung disease.  Additionally, while we know smoking is also bad for our oral health, most don’t understand just how bad it is…

More Than Just Stained Teeth

From its seemingly mild side effects (bad breath, tooth discoloration, buildup of plaque and tartar), to the more sinister (increased risk of oral cancer, loss of bone within the jaw, gum disease and any number of resulting complications) – tobacco is indeed an oral health risk.

These risks are real, but if you quit using tobacco now you can minimize your risk of oral health today.  On March 6, 2019, Dr. Graver lost his 85 year-old father, Harry Bennett Graver, Jr. He loved and admired the changes for good that his father made during his lifetime. In the 1950’s, Harry quit smoking on a bet from a friend that he couldn’t quit smoking for over a year. He did accept that bet and went on to quit and then returned to his friend to collect the $100 wager. What would motivate you to quit?

Tobacco can cause serious health issues by breaking down the attachment of bone and soft tissue to your teeth. Because of this breakdown, the use of tobacco makes smokers much more susceptible to infection and diseases. In fact, 90% of people who have cancer of the mouth, throat, or gums admit to using tobacco in some form.

Cigarettes, cigars and pipes aren’t the only culprits; smokeless tobacco can be just as detrimental to oral health, if not worse. In fact, there are twenty-eight chemicals found in chewing tobacco alone that are proven to increase the risk of cancer in the mouth, throat, and esophagus. Chewing tobacco and snuff contain higher levels of nicotine than those found in cigarettes and other tobacco products, making it exposes the roots, and ultimately makes teeth more susceptible to decay.

 

Help is Just Next Door

The only way to help eliminate these risks is to never start using tobacco products, or to quit if you do. In fact, simply reducing tobacco use is proven to help lower your risks. If you feel that it is time to reduce your risk of cancer, gum disease, infection and other oral complications, your dentist or doctor can help you create a plan to help you quit using tobacco, along with prescribing certain medicines or programs to help you kick the habit. Here at Beautiful Smiles Family Dental Center, programs we’ve shared with patients have helped make a difference in their lives, while helping protect their health at the same time.

Remember, it is never too late to quit. In memory of his father, Dr. Graver will give a gift of $200 value to any patient who enters the practice as a tobacco user and then quits their documented tobacco use for over a year; $100 to reward the patient’s efforts and $100 in memory of Harry Graver and his motivational friend.

Contact our office to get started!

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At Beautiful Smiles Family Dental Center in Etters, Pennsylvania, Dr. Graver offers a variety of techniques to keep your smile beautiful! We are always concerned about your comfort. Please call us if you have any questions about how our services may benefit you or someone you know.