Oral health and tobacco

　The mouth is the first organ that suffers from tobacco damage. Smoking causes darkening of the gingival of the front teeth and melanin pigmentation (Fig. 1). Even if you quit smoking, it will take several years to disappear. Tobacco tar (tar) is easily attached to the back of the teeth (Fig. 2) is not desirable for beauty.
　In addition to tobacco odor, periodontal disease, smell of dirt on the surface of the tongue (black tongue), smell of sputum in the throat and bronchial sputum are mixed, and emits a strong bad breath.
Carbon monoxide exceeding the indoor environmental standard (10ppm) can be detected in the exhaled breath, which poses a threat to seizures to people with asthma.

　Smokers are 2-8 times more susceptible to periodontal disease than those who do not smoke. It is called "smoking-related periodontal disease" and smoking cessation is essential. Periodontal disease health check-up results show that more smokers have severe periodontal disease (Table 1).

(Table 1) Periodontal Disease Test, Yokohama City in FY2011

　The three major harmful substances of tobacco are tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide. Poor periodontal disease bacteria in the periodontal pocket (groove between teeth and gums) dislike oxygen (anaerobic bacteria), so nicotine has poor blood flow due to vascular constriction due to nicotine, and the combination of carbon monoxide and hemoglobin causes oxygen deficiency and increases momentum. Even if you brush your teeth, destruction progresses from the inside of the periodontal tissue.
　Heavy smokers have a hardened gingival surface (Fig. 3), and the bones that support the teeth are significantly absorbed, and many teeth are lost. Because signs of inflammation such as bleeding and redness are less likely to appear, the discovery of periodontal disease is delayed and becomes more severe without realizing it. Because high-heat tobacco smoke of about 700 ° C directly hits the inside of the jaw gums, periodontal disease is common in the front teeth and molars. It reduces the secretion of saliva, plaque (a mass of living bacteria) and tartar, and reduces the number of antibodies that fight pathogens in saliva, making it more susceptible to periodontal disease and cavity.

It has a bad healing effect and also has a low effect of antibacterial agent.

Blood flow disorders and inflammation occurs in the tissue around the implant (peri-implant flames), and the jaw bone may melt and fall off without being able to support the implant (Fig. 4).

　Tobacco contains carcinogens, and smokers take in carcinogens on a daily basis. It is said that cancer in the mouth and pharyngeal is three times more likely than in those who do not smoke (Fig. 5).

　Despite tobacco being the biggest risk factor for periodontal disease, it has a low awareness in Yokohama. The public awareness survey on health conducted every three years in Health and Social Welfare Bureau showed 24.7% in 2005, 27.3% in 2008, and 24.1% in 2011.

　The effect of smoking cessation is clear, and the blood flow of the gums recovers normally in a few days to weeks. Smoking cessation is the most effective way to prevent and treat oral diseases, including periodontal disease. Why don't you get back the spilling smile with smoking cessation?