Appearance
Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition to increasing the risk of developing cancer and heart disease, smoking also causes unsightly and potentially dangerous changes to the mouth and teeth. Constant exposure to the tars and chemicals in tobacco and tobacco smoke can cause the teeth to turn yellow or brown. Drinking coffee and tea along with smoking can contribute to the discoloration of the teeth. Smoking also causes bad breath and can affect taste and smell.
Dental Health
While brown teeth may be one of the more obvious effects of smoking, the habit can also lead to other changes that aren't so obvious, including the buildup of plaque on the teeth. Plaque is a sticky, colorless film comprised of bacteria that can lead to tooth decay. When plaque hardens, it is called tartar. Tartar buildup can lead to periodontitis, a gum disease in which pockets of bacteria at the gum line cause the gums to begin to pull away from the teeth. If periodontitis is not successfully treated, it can cause tooth loss. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of tooth loss, according to the Consumer Guide to Dentistry, and may affect the success of tooth implants used to replace missing teeth.
A study published in the September 2007 edition of the "Journal of Periodontology" found that periodontal surgery to reattach gum tissue to the root surface of the teeth was less successful when performed on smokers. Results from the study, performed by lead researcher Cléverson O. Silva and others, indicate that two years after treatment, smokers experienced a greater area of receding gums when compared with non-smokers.
Oral Cancer
Cigarette smoking is linked with an increased risk of cancers of the oral cavity, including the lips, mouth and tongue, according to the CDC. Oral cancer can be difficult to diagnose in the early stages, because pain or obvious symptoms may not occur. In some cases, a white film called leukoplakia, may form on the mucous membranes. Leukoplakia cannot be brushed or washed away and can turn into cancer if not treated.
Other symptoms of oral cancer include red patches in the mouth, canker sores that don't heal, lumps in the mouth or neck, a growth that looks like a wart, chronic earache, hoarseness, numbness in or around the mouth or trouble swallowing, chewing or talking. Sores or discolored areas may appear on the tongue, back of the mouth, back of the throat or the area around the tonsils. The Oral Cancer Foundation recommends seeing a health care professional if a sore or discolored area in the mouth does not heal within 14 days. Treatment of oral cancer involves reducing the size of the tumor with chemotherapy or radiation therapies and performing surgery if necessary.
