Can dentists really tell if you smoke? The answer is yes – they can often tell whether or not someone smokes simply by looking at their teeth and body. In fact, smoking can increase your risk for tooth decay, gum disease, and even mouth cancer. In this article, we will discuss the ways in which smoking affects oral health and how dentists can tell if you smoke.
How Can Dentists Tell If You Smoke?
The ways that dentists can tell if you smoke are very similar to the ways dentists can tell if you vape. These common signs can be broken down into signs that appear in the mouth and signs that appear in your body
How Dentists Can Tell If You Smoke By Looking At Your Mouth
- Stained Teeth: One of the most common ways that dentists can tell if you smoke is by the presence of stained teeth. The nicotine and tar in cigarettes can cause your teeth to become yellow or brown over time. If you have recently started smoking, your teeth may not be discoloured yet, but will likely become so over time.
- Bad Breath: Smokers often have bad breath due to the presence of tobacco smoke in their mouths. This can be a sign that you smoke, even if you only smoke occasionally.
- Dry Mouth: Another common sign of smoking is a dry mouth. This is caused by the nicotine in cigarettes, which can decrease saliva production. A dry mouth can lead to other oral health problems, such as tooth decay and gum disease.
- White Gums: The gums of smokers often appear white or pale in colour. This is caused by the nicotine in cigarettes, which acts as vasoconstrictors, and decreases blood flow to the gums. This also causes decreased bleeding in the mouth.
- Black Tongue / Hairy Tongue: Smoking can also cause a black tongue or hairy tongue. This is caused by the presence of tobacco smoke in the mouth, which can build up on the tongue and cause it to change colour.
- Gums Detach From Tooth: Periodontal attachment loss and periodontal pockets (essentially the detachment of gums from your teeth) are common in smokers. This is because the nicotine in cigarettes decreases blood flow to the gums, which can lead to gum disease.
- Irritation / Lesions in the Mouth: Cigarette smoking can also cause irritation and lesions in the mouth, such as leukoplakia (white patches on the mucous membranes) and erythroplakia (red patches on the mucous membranes). These lesions can be precancerous, and may eventually lead to mouth cancer.
- Increased Bone Loss: Smokers are also at increased risk for bone loss in the jaw, which can lead to tooth loss.
- Throat Dryness/Coughs: Smokers often experience throat dryness and coughs due to the presence of tobacco smoke in their throats. They may also have hoarser voices than nonsmokers.
How Dentists Can Tell If You Smoke By Looking At Your Body
- Nicotine Stains: One of the most common ways that dentists can tell if you smoke is by the presence of nicotine stains on your fingers or nails. These stains are caused by the nicotine in cigarettes, and are often yellow or brown in colour.
- Pale Fingers: The fingers of smokers often appear pale in colour due to the nicotine in cigarettes, which acts as a vasoconstrictor. This decreases blood flow to the fingers, which can lead to paleness.
- Discoloured Fingernails / Hair: Smokers often have yellow- or brown-tinged fingernails and hair due to the presence of nicotine in cigarettes.
- Rapid Breathing / Jitteriness: Smokers often have rapid breathing or appear to be jittery due to the presence of nicotine in their bodies. Nicotine is a stimulant, which can cause increased heart rate and blood pressure, resulting in these effects.
What About if I Rarely Smoke?
If you smoke only occasionally, it may be harder for a dentist to tell if you smoke. This is because the common signs of smoking take time to develop. The more often you smoke, the more likely it is that your dentist will be able to tell. It is very hard to give exact numbers, as it depends on how much you smoke, how often you smoke, when the last time you smoked was, and what your metabolism is like. However, as a general rule, if you smoke a few cigarettes a week it is likely that your dentist will be able to tell.
What Will A Dentist Do If They Suspect You Smoke?
Although it is very easy for a dentist to tell if you smoke, will they do anything about it? Knowing whether you smoke or not is important to make an informed recommendation about dental treatments. This is because smoking affects your oral health in many ways. This includes a decreased ability for your body to heal, as well as an increased risk of developing infections. Telling your dentist this could help them decide if and what treatment they should provide.
If you are open to discussion about the benefits of quitting smoking with your dentist, they may be able to provide you with resources to help you quit. This could include referrals to smoking cessation programs or counselling.
However, the choice to smoke or not to smoke is completely up to you. Dentists will always act as advisors and give you all the pros and cons of every action you take. From there, it is up to you to make the decision that you believe is best for yourself. A dentist will not judge you for your choice to smoke nor will they try to force you to stop. They also will respect your right to privacy and will not tell anyone else about your smoking habits unless you give them permission to do so.
If you are under the age of 18 and don’t want dentists to tell your parents, a dentist will only tell parents if they believe that the child is not mature enough to provide consent (aka only if they believe the child is unable to make health decisions for themselves).
At the end of the day, dentist-patient relationships are built on trust. It is important to be honest with your dentist about your smoking habits so that they can best provide you with the dental care that you need and deserve.
Disclaimer
The contents of this website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be substituted for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Nothing on this website constitutes the practice of medicine, law or any other regulated profession.
No two mouths are the same, and each oral situation is unique. As such, it isn’t possible to give comprehensive advice or diagnose oral conditions based on articles alone. The best way to ensure you’re getting the best dental care possible is to visit a dentist in person for an examination and consultation.
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