Some of you will have noticed that legislation is currently being debated by this government that would ban children born after 2008 from ever being able to buy cigarettes. While the legislation has not yet passed, it is almost certain to which means that in time, there will be nobody who smokes, although there may be loopholes that get exploited of course.<\/p>\n
On the whole though, there is little doubt that, if successful, this will have a major positive impact not only on our children\u2019s oral health but on their general health too. It is well recognised that smoking kills and also causes serious lung and heart issues. The ban is also likely to reduce the pressure on the NHS over time as well.<\/p>\n
Sticking to what we know best at the Foxhall Dental Practice, let us take a look at some of the benefits that our Younger Ipswich patients should experience over time from an oral health aspect.<\/p>\n
Although it is not the only factor in oral cancers, with excess alcohol consumption and the HPV virus also being contributors, smoking is the number one cause of this potentially fatal disease. Without access to cigarettes, we would expect to see a very significant drop in the numbers of people suffering with this although research is still ongoing into the effect of vaping which could replace it. On the whole though, some excellent news that should result in less deaths and cases of facial disfigurement from the cancer.<\/p>\n
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Smoking not only causes irritants and chemicals to swirl around the mouth but causes a dry mouth too. As we have mentioned in other blogs, this creates the ideal condition for bacteria to grow. As the number of bacteria increases, and without the saliva to wash them away, gum disease becomes more likely.\u00a0 Although the early stage (gingivitis) is largely reversible, this is not always the case for advanced gum disease (periodontitis). This latter stage is likely to lead to tooth loss. The ending of cigarette smoking for the younger generation should reduce this problem a lot, especially with general good oral health care including seeing our Ipswich dental hygienist<\/a>.<\/p>\n As mentioned above, gum disease can eventually lead to tooth loss and the ban on smoking will hopefully reduce this. Tooth decay is also more common in smokers, whereby increased levels of oral bacteria lead to more problems with the enamel on our teeth being compromised. The more bacteria, the more likely damage is and smokers can expect to receive more fillings than non-smokers, all other things being equal.<\/p>\n When you have an invasive treatment such as an extraction or a dental implant placement, this naturally takes a little time to heal. A healthy mouth will allow this to happen more quickly than the mouth of a smoker. For one thing, smoking narrows the tiny blood vessels in the gum area and this restricts oxygen flow to the \u2018wound\u2019. The slower time increases the risk of further infection. Future generations should hopefully find that recovery times from dental procedures are faster and with less risk of infections.<\/p>\n A less important issue from a health point but one that can affect confidence and other life factors such as potential dates and job interviews. Smoking is well known to heavily stain the teeth, causing them to become yellow or even brown. While other foods and drinks can do this, smoking has a deserved reputation as one of the worst and eliminating it should rapidly reduce this problem.<\/p>\n As future generations’ mouths become healthier and less incidences of decay and gum disease are detected, more focus is likely to be on prevention. There will always be the need for education about oral health; something that seeing the hygienist is excellent for. In addition to this, it is likely that more time will be able to be spent on cosmetic treatments to help our Ipswich patients have a more attractive smile. There are, of course, other challenges to overcome, such as a high sugar diet, but the ending of cigarette smoking is certainly an excellent start.<\/p>\n If you currently smoke, we strongly recommend that you see us on a regular basis so that we can get on top of any oral health issues that might arise. If you would like to make an appointment at the Foxhall Dental Practice, you can do so by calling us today on 01473 258396<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" How new legislation may impact oral health. Some of you will have noticed that legislation is currently being debated by this government that would ban children born after 2008 from ever being able to buy cigarettes. While the legislation has …<\/p>\nFewer lost teeth<\/h3>\n
Better healing following treatment<\/h3>\n
Less tooth staining<\/h3>\n
Less treatment and more prevention<\/h3>\n