Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley CA
We all know that smoking is bad for your health but did you know it also can devastate your teeth? Smoking can deteriorate the oral microbiome and, with it, cause severe tooth decay and the proliferation of toxins in your mouth. We explore this topic in greater detail, today on the blog.
What is the oral microbiome?
The oral microbiome consists of the entire population of microorganisms that resides in the mouth. Your mouth contains more than 600 different species of bacteria. Some of these bacteria are positive but most have negative effects. Left to thrive, the majority of these bacteria can trigger or spread oral cancer. They can be activated due to prolonged smoking, which already is one of the leading causes of mortality and preventable disease in the United States.
New York University conducted a study at its Langone Medical Center, working in conjunction with the Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center to test more than 1,000 American adults whose smoking history ranged a gamut from complete non-smokers to those who kicked the habit several years prior to current chain smokers. The results showed a vast difference in the oral microbiome when comparing current smokers to non-smokers or individuals who had quit smoking several years prior. The mouths of current chain smokers contained 150 species of harmful bacteria, much higher than the norm. Smokers also had significantly lower levels of Proteobacteria, a general label for good bacteria in the mouth. Smokers had levels of Proteobacteria as low as 4.6 percent—far below the average level of 11.7 percent in non-smokers.
The long-term ramifications of this microbiome damage can go far beyond tooth loss. If smoking does not cease, imperfections in the microbiome also can lead to chronic and even life-threatening conditions such as gastrointestinal cancer and Crohn’s disease.
Stopping smoking is your best course of action
To restore your oral microbiome, stop smoking as soon as possible. If you do smoke, this is yet another reason to quit—as recommended by doctors, dentists, and all of medical science for the past several decades. When a smoker quits for good, the oral microbiome is able to return to its normal healthy state. This restoration process takes about 10 years to restore the microbial balance in the mouth.
Oral cancer screenings in Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Los Gatos in California
Whether or not you smoke, previously smoked or never smoked, you should receive an oral cancer screening from your dentist. Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry performs an oral cancer screening as part of each of our normal checkups. In the meantime, be vigilant to any sudden changes in the condition of your mouth—especially lesions or lumps that do not appear to be healing, or patches of white skin.
Oral cancers often do not present noticeable symptoms like pain until they have progressed into advanced stages and, by then, it could be too late. Early detection of any oral cancer is crucial. To schedule an oral cancer screening or learn about recommended smoking cessation programs, make an appointment with Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry today. Call (831) 438-4411 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
