Dentists can often tell if a person is a smoker or drinks alcohol by looking at the colour of their teeth. Cigarette smoking and heavy drinking are two main causes of stains.
Teeth are made of non-living material (translucent enamel), and a living, inner part of the tooth, called the dentin. When enamel becomes thin, the natural yellowish dentin shows through.
Alcoholism, combined with smoking, can eventually cause periodontal disease, leading to cavities, decay, and tooth loss. Smokers are four times more likely to have gum problems than non-smokers. Smoking constricts blood flow to the mouth, making it a breeding ground for bacteria.
There are over 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, including 43 known carcinogens and 400 other toxins. Visible smoke is only less than 10 percent of the total output of a cigarette. The unseen or gas phase of cigarette smoke contains an assortment of toxins, such as carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, acrolein, hydrogen cyanide, butane, and nitrogen oxides, to name a few. Smoking can cause many serious problems for teeth and gums.
Smokers are prone to:
- Foul breath
- Discolouration of the teeth
- Bleeding gums
- Pain when chewing
- Loosening of teeth
- Receding gum line
- Risk of oral cancer
- Looser fit for dentures
Health issues can be further exacerbated when teeth are not properly cleaned. Plaque buildup targets the tissues that form:
- Gums
- Alveolar bone (where teeth are embedded)
- Periodontal ligament (supports the root of the tooth)
- Cementum ( connects the tooth to the alveolar bone)
When these structures are weakened or compromised, teeth can fall out.
On the other hand, people who drink high amounts of alcohol usually have more plaque on their teeth and are three times more likely to experience permanent tooth loss. Alcohol is corrosive and irritates soft tissue in the mouth. The carbonates in alcoholic beverages dissolve tooth enamel and tannin (found in wine, dark beer, and coloured drinks) causes staining.
Alcohol is a diuretic; the more you urinate, the drier your mouth becomes. Saliva washes away bacteria and food debris stuck on teeth. Healthy human saliva has a pH of 7.4, just like blood. When acidic foods and beverages are consumed, the pH level falls. When this happens, cavity causing bacteria grows when there are long periods of a low pH environment in the mouth. Exposure to sugar feeds bacteria even more. Mixed drinks or cocktails combine alcohol, carbonates, and sugar — all damaging to the teeth.
Discoloured, stained, or yellowed teeth can often be made bright again with one or two visits to your dentist for a professional teeth whitening procedure. Talk with your dentist about habits that are good for your oral — and overall — health.
Springdale Dental Center offers teeth whitening, dental surgery, children’s dentistry, implants, cosmetic dentistry and other services. Call us at (905) 458-1212 or send us a message at in**@sp**************.com . Our staff will gladly assist you in every way we can.
