According to the American Cancer Society, oral cancer is estimated to affect 90% of people who have used tobacco of some form. The longer you use a tobacco product the higher your risk of getting oral cancer (cancer affecting the lips, tongue, throat, and mouth).
One of the most common forms of tobacco is cigarettes. Smoking tobacco is associated with periodontal loss. It inhibits part of the healing process in the mouth. In a normal mouth, inflammation in the gums occurs due to excess bacteria that releases toxins into the gums. With a smoker the body’s ability to heal from this inflammation is limited and bone is destroyed in the process. The result can be irreversible bone loss around the teeth, which results in gum disease.
Luckily, there are surgical and non-surgical therapies to reverse or slow the progression of periodontal disease. One common non-surgical therapy is Scaling and Root Planing – a deep cleaning to smooth the tooth root and remove bacterial toxins. This can be accompanied with local antibiotics. In some cases, a surgical approach is needed to prevent the progression of gum disease and bone loss around the teeth.
To ensure good oral health we encourage 3 simple steps: 1) try to quit smoking – our office can give several encouraging options to do this. 2) Get regular dental check ups – Dr Laudie completes thorough oral cancer screenings at each cleaning appointment, and 3) Learn how to care for your mouth properly; our dental hygienists can give you the tools you need!
Chandry Nelson