Giving Up Smoking

Smokers, particularly those under the age of 50 years, have a much higher risk of tooth loss, dental decay and gum disease than non-smokers.

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Even smokers with good dental hygiene have an increased risk of decay compared with non-smokers. Smoking is also a leading cause of mouth and throat cancer, as well as other cancers.

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From a cosmetic viewpoint, the nicotine and tar in cigarettes builds up on the teeth, tongue and sides of the cheeks.

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As well as discolouring the teeth, smoking also reduces the amount of saliva produced and dries the mouth. This causes bacteria to grow and leads to bad breath.