If you’ve recently given up smoking cigarettes or using other tobacco products, you’re making great strides toward achieving better oral health. But, it can be a long and tiresome road. There are several things ex-smokers may want to incorporate into their oral care routine to ensure they are taking proactive steps toward a healthier smile.
At Mountain View Dental, our team understands how difficult it can be to give up smoking. Coupling this with an attempt to remedy potential oral ailments might seem difficult, but with the right education and patience, you can achieve great oral health. If you are trying to heal your mouth after smoking, keep reading to learn how our team recommends ex-smokers do so.
Understanding Nicotine’s Impact on Your Oral Health
Nicotine may have several adverse effects on your oral health. First, it can restrict blood flow to the gums, which may lead to slower healing and an increased risk of developing gum disease. This reduced blood flow may also lead to gum recession and, in more severe cases, tooth loss. Additionally, nicotine reduces saliva production, causing dry mouth.
This condition may promote the growth of harmful bacteria and lead to chronic bad breath, tooth decay, and further gum disease. Moreover, nicotine can stain teeth, leaving them yellowed and discolored, and can also dull the sense of taste and smell. Understanding these impacts can help motivate ex-smokers as they navigate this new, fresh start in their lives, helping them strive for improved oral health.
Oral Care Tips for Ex-Smokers
As ex-smokers, there are a few steps you want to ensure you include in your oral health routine. By following a strict oral health routine, you can begin to address oral health ailments like gingivitis, dry mouth, and tooth decay. Some things you should do to begin your oral health healing journey include:
1. Use Products Designed for Oral Health Recovery
One of the first things ex-smokers should do is look for oral care products that are designed for oral health recovery. These products may include toothpaste designed to heal the gums and address loss of enamel and fluoride-rich mouthwashes. With the aid of these products, you can begin addressing any oral irritations you may have experienced as a result of smoking or using other nicotine products.
2. Improve Your Oral Hygiene Routine
While this isn’t exclusive to ex-smokers, it is important that you take steps to improve your oral hygiene routine. Make sure you are brushing at least twice a day, for at least two minutes to remove food particles and kill bacteria present in your mouth. Now is also a great time to begin flossing more regularly. Flossing will help remove tough food particles that can cause tooth decay. Finally, remember to use an antibacterial mouthwash twice a day to kill any bacteria that may linger after brushing and flossing.
3. Stay Hydrated
It isn’t uncommon for ex-smokers to struggle with dry mouth. Smoking can reduce your mouth’s ability to produce enough saliva, which is essential for protecting your teeth from harmful bacteria. To accommodate for poor saliva production, ensure that you are drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Not only will this alleviate dry mouth symptoms you may be experiencing, but it should also help to rinse away lingering food particles and bacteria present in your mouth.
4. Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine
Alcohol and caffeine are both responsible for drying out your mouth. Coupling that with oral irritations you may experience as a result of smoking can lead to significant discomfort and the worsening of your oral health condition. While quitting these products entirely may be difficult, it is best to limit your use of them while trying to recover from oral health ailments. Limiting your intake should help your mouth maintain optimal saliva production.
5. Speak to a Dentist about Professional Whitening Treatments
As many smokers and ex-smokers know, the consumption of nicotine products is responsible for the yellowing of your teeth. If you’ve stopped smoking but are still plagued by yellow teeth, you might want to speak to a dentist about whether professional teeth whitening is right for you. It is important to note, though, that not all staining from smoking can be treated with these whitening treatments. If that is the case, other cosmetic dentistry, like veneers, may be better for improving the appearance of your smile.
6. Monitor for Signs of Oral Cancers
Although you have stopped smoking, the impact of this behavior can last far longer than you may realize. After you’ve stopped using nicotine products, you should still monitor for signs of oral cancer development. These signs may include sores, lumps, or patches that don’t heal within two weeks. If any of these occur, it is essential that you reach out to a trusted dental team as soon as possible to address these problems and ensure there isn’t a larger problem brewing.
7. Attend Regular Dental Check-Ups
One of the easiest ways to maintain a great oral health routine after you’ve stopped smoking is by attending regular dental cleanings and checkups. While these are important for everyone, they are especially important for ex-smokers who are currently treating oral health conditions. By maintaining twice-yearly appointments, your dentist can ensure you are making positive steps toward achieving a healthier smile.
Address Oral Concerns with a Reliable Dental Team
If you’ve recently stopped smoking and you’re looking for a reliable dental team in Ogden, Utah, to help you achieve a healthier smile, turn to our team at Mountain View Dental. With years of experience helping patients across the Wasatch Front treat and heal a variety of oral health conditions, we are confident that we’re the right team for you.
Whether you need dental cleanings, fillings, X-rays, or something else, our team provides a variety of dental services to meet every patient’s unique needs. If you’re ready to schedule a dental appointment with our team or if you have any questions for us about the services we provide, don’t hesitate to contact us today!
