Tobacco use is the largest avoidable cause of illness and premature death in Germany.
Besides the ever-growing list of illnesses linked to smoking, there are also a great many dental problems associated with it. The most obvious are bad breath and discoloured teeth. More serious still is that smoking is linked to a raised risk of gum disease, to greater bone loss in the jaw and to oral cancer.
And yet almost 33% of Germans over 14 smoke cigarettes
As Zahnchirurgie Köln we strongly recommend that you stop smoking. Why? Because:
- Smokers have twice the risk of gum disease that non-smokers do. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, tobacco use is one of the most important risk factors for the development and progression of gum disease.
- Smoking has been found not only to raise the likelihood of gum disease but also to make its treatment less effective.
- Gum disease is the main cause of tooth loss.
- Gum disease is associated with complications in pregnancy.
- Gum disease is associated with a range of serious health disorders, among them heart attack, stroke, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis, Alzheimer’s and cancer.
- At least 75% of cancers of the mouth, lips, tongue and throat are found in tobacco users.
There is good news, however. The effects of smoking begin to reverse almost immediately once a smoker stops. According to the American Dental Association, even after years of tobacco use, cutting down or giving up entirely can reduce the health risks considerably — to the point where the likelihood of gum disease falls to the level of someone who has never smoked. Can you imagine a life without cigarettes? Better breath, whiter teeth, healthier gums, better health — all of that could be yours. Why not make today the day?
