Keeping the teeth and mouth of smokers clean, here's how!

It's not easy to quit and get rid of smoking. However, this habit is detrimental to health and one of them is affecting the condition of the mouth and teeth. Smokers need to make extra efforts in maintaining dental and oral hygiene considering they are more at risk of experiencing health problems.

Evidence that smokers are more at risk of experiencing dental and oral health problems

The impact of smoking that is quite easy or commonly found around us, for example, is yellow teeth to bad breath. This may not be enough to convince some people that smoking is bad for oral health.

In fact, a 2015 study that examined the habits of students in cleaning their teeth and mouth, including smokers, stated that active smokers experience more health problems than those who do not.

In addition, this study also found that most people do make an effort to maintain oral hygiene, but it is not ideal or according to the guidelines recommended by health experts.

Then, a 2016 study also found that sensitive teeth and dry mouth were more common among smokers compared to nonsmokers.

Bad effects of oral health for overall health

Reporting from the Oral Health Foundation page, smoking can trigger several oral health problems, such as:

• Tooth stains or yellowing of teeth. Due to the effects of nicotine and tar contained in cigarettes that occur rapidly.
• Gum disease (gingivitis). Occurs due to the buildup of plaque full of bacteria and also a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream so that gum disease takes longer to recover.
• Tooth loss
• Bad breath
• In severe cases, it can trigger oral cancer.

Not only has an impact on the health of the mouth, oral health, whether it's a smoker or not, can affect the overall health of the body. The mouth is one way for bacteria to enter the respiratory tract and also digestion.

If not cleaned, bacteria or viruses from the mouth can easily enter the body and cause disease. Reporting from the Mayo Clinic, several health problems related to oral health include:

• Endocarditis (inflammation of the endocardium, the inner lining of the heart)
• Heart disease
• Complications of pregnancy and childbirth
• Pneumonia (lung infection)

Guidelines for maintaining healthy teeth and mouth for smokers

According to data from tobaccoaltlas.org, more than 64 million people smoke every day in Indonesia. This figure illustrates how important it is to raise awareness that smoking increases the risk of oral diseases so that more efforts are needed to maintain oral health.

You can follow these tips in an effort to prevent health problems caused by poor oral health, especially for smokers.

Routinely brush your teeth and use a special paste

Everyone is encouraged to at least carry out a routine or habit of cleaning their teeth twice and flossing at least once a day. But that's not all.

You can use toothpaste specifically intended for smokers. Usually, this type of toothpaste is more abrasive, which can help reduce stains on your teeth. Consult your dentist about using this product if you have any doubts.

Smokers should use mouthwash or mouthwash

As mentioned earlier, one of the effects of smoking is bad breath. Well, mouthwash can be used to help overcome this problem.

But that's not all. There is mouthwash which has the content to repel and reduce the number of bacteria up to 99% in the mouth as well. You only need to be careful before determining a product.

The benefits of mouthwash in reducing bacteria in the mouth are of course thanks to the content in it and some of the essential oils. The 2016 study found that mouthwash or mouthwash containing essential oils can provide benefits in maintaining oral health if used in the long term.

One thing to know, referring to the American Dental Association, keep in mind that mouthwash is not a substitute for a toothbrush and flossing. Mouthwash aims to complement the steps of maintaining maximum oral hygiene. This is because toothbrushes often cannot clean hard-to-reach areas.

Routine examinations at the dentist

This habit is still quite rare for most people. In fact, the benefits are enormous for oral health, especially smokers.

When you visit the dentist, you will get a complete examination of the condition of your teeth and mouth which is very effective in preventing various health problems.

Limit alcohol consumption and preferably stop smoking

Most alcoholic drinks are high in sugar. This can cause tooth decay more quickly, especially if you smoke.

The best solution is for you to quit smoking. If traced, actually smoking only has a bad impact on health and does not provide any benefits to the body. It is difficult, but try to start reducing the smoking habit from now on.

Oral and dental health should not be taken lightly considering their impact can affect overall health, especially for smokers. The more often you brush your teeth, flossing, and use mouthwash, decreasing the risk of contracting various types of diseases.