|
Q: How can chewing tobacco affect our dental health?
We're all aware of the major health risks associated with the use of tobacco. Your oral health can suffer significantly through tobacco use as well. Studies have shown that smokers experience tooth loss at a far greater rate than non-smokers, just to name one concern. But chewing tobacco can also cause havoc in your mouth. American Dental Association researchers have established that the habit can contribute to other oral problems, including cavities.
Tobacco chewers are four times more likely to develop tooth decay than non-users. The study found that men who used only chewing tobacco had a higher adjusted average number of decayed or filled permanent teeth than did those who used only snuff. It was also true when compared with men who used only cigarettes or more than one form of tobacco, or who never used tobacco.
Among the researchers' conclusions was that the high level of fermentable sugar in chewing tobacco products stimulates the growth of cavity-causing bacteria. Since a wad of tobacco is normally kept in the mouth an average of 30 minutes, teeth are subject to prolonged exposure to the sugar. Talk with your dentist about the perils of tobacco in all its forms.
|
Top
