Rule Dental- Encouraging Lake Bluff Residents To Stop Smoking
Studies show that tobacco can cause heart and lung disease, a variety of cancers, and low birth weight in infants. With vast experience in providing dental care for Lake Bluff area residents, Dr. Rule is also aware of the damaging effects that smoking has on your oral health.
Tobacco contains numerous substances, many of which are destructive to your body’s tissues and cells, limiting your body’s ability to defend itself and fight off disease, including in your mouth.
For example, tobacco is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. In fact, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a staggering 41.3 percent of daily smokers over age 65 are toothless. Why is this true?
Smokers are more likely to have hardened plaque build-up on their teeth (calculus) and to develop periodontal disease (a serious form of gum disease). This oral disease adversely affects the gums, the jawbone and one or more teeth, resulting in infection and tooth loss. There are also other oral health issues associated with smoking such as bad breath, yellowed teeth, decreased senses of taste and smell and mouth sores.
What can be done to help protect your oral health if you are a smoker? The obvious answer is just to stop smoking, as difficult as that can be. A regular schedule of good oral hygiene is also extremely important including brushing, flossing, and regular visits for dental check-ups and professional cleanings. Dr. Rule and his team also offer amazing procedures that can help restore the brilliance of your smile, including full mouth rehabilitation.
Ultimately, you are the one that needs to decide to stop smoking, but we want to assist you along the way. Caring for the dental needs of Lake Bluff area residents, we’re doing all we can to care for and promote good oral health to smokers and non-smokers alike.
