Smoking is for chimneys, imaginary dragons, and serious barbecue. If you aren’t any of those things — and we’re pretty sure you’re not — you should reconsider your tobacco-filled habits.
As you already know, years of research prove how harmful smoking is to our health. From lung cancer to heart disease, lighting up comes with dozens of grave consequences.
Don’t ignore the facts! Remind yourself what extensive tobacco use can do to your smile:
1. Oral Cancer
Tobacco use is the leading cause of oral cancer and is responsible for 22% of all cancer deaths worldwide. If you find these statistics startling, consider this fact: Eliminating tobacco use can prevent all tobacco-caused cancer!
2. Unhealthy Gums
Tobacco use can recede and weaken gums, increasing temperature sensitivity and leaving teeth susceptible to decay. Smokers are also 4 times more likely to develop gum disease, which can lead to tooth loss, among other health conditions.
3. Teeth Stains
Tar and nicotine, 2 major ingredients in cigarettes, stain tooth enamel yellow. Over time, these ingredients build and form brown stains around the gum line.
4. Smoker’s Breath
Particles from cigarettes build up in the throat and mouth, creating a lingering “stale” smell. Tobacco use can also affect the salivary glands, causing dry mouth and preventing saliva from breaking down halitosis-causing bacteria.
What are you waiting for? Make like a ninja and kick butts—cigarette butts, that is.
Need help quitting? Contact the Wyoming QuitLine.
