Smoking or Soda: Which One Can Do More Damage to Your Oral Health?
There are many aspects of having good oral health. There are some things you should do if you want good oral health – such as brushing and flossing regularly – and then there are things you should avoid if you want good oral health. Two of the most harmful habits are smoking and drinking sugary sodas.
Do you know what they can do to your gums and teeth? Read on to learn more and then reach out to California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 to make an appointment with a dentist.
Smoking is terrible for your teeth
It’s unlikely that anyone smokes these days without knowing that it’s damaging their body. In fact, cigarette packs have warnings right on them. There are many potential effects of smoking, including everything from stinking like smoke to an increased risk of lung cancer.
What some people don’t realize is that smoking can also have a negative impact on your oral health. This takes time, but the nicotine and tar in cigarettes eventually settles into the pores of the teeth. This can cause yellow teeth that no teeth whitening can sufficiently fix. Smoking can also increase a person’s chance of mouth cancer. It’s true that lung cancer is the type of cancer most people think of, but smoking increases the chance of mouth cancer to.
It’s important to understand that there’s no amount of oral health care that can completely reverse the effects of smoking. That said, we want to encourage smokers first and foremost to quit, but if they’re not able or willing to do so, then we suggest brushing and flossing as regularly as possible. This may help reduce some of the negative effects cigarette smoke has on your teeth.
Soda is not good for your teeth either
If you want to put soda and smoking head to head, there’s no question that smoking is worse. That said, soda can lead to its own issues. If you’re drinking full-sugar soda, then you’re increasing your chance to get cavities. Why? Because the bacteria that’s in your mouth is going to interact with the sugar you’re feeding it. The result is plaque and eventually that will lead to decay.
Soda also has acids that can actually break down the enamel on your teeth and lead to erosion. Soda gets your teeth with both sugar and acid, which makes it the worst of all drinks for your teeth. If you drink soda regularly, the best thing you can do is to cut back significantly or altogether. In the meantime, you can reduce the negative impact by making sure you’re diligent with brushing and flossing and that you visit your dentist regularly.
At California Dental Group, we are not here to judge anyone. We understand that people are dealing with their own issues and that sometimes they find it difficult or downright impossible to kick bad habits. If you’re still smoking or drinking soda regularly, know that you should still get regular dental care. In fact, it’s important than ever before. Call us at (800) 407-0161 to make your appointment.
