The National Cancer Institute says that smoking adversely affects every bodily organ system--heart, lung, skin, brain and of course, your teeth, gums and other soft tissues of the mouth and throat. Dr. Gregory A. Rosecrans, your Bay City, MI dentist, joins with his colleagues in the dental and medical professions in asking you to "Kick the Habit."

Smoking Changes Your Smile

Your smile says a lot about your personality and self-image. It also tells people whether or not you smoke. That's right. Many smokers reveal their tobacco habit by simply smiling or laughing because tobacco smoke stains both teeth AND tongue. Your naturally white teeth and pink tongue take on a brownish, yellowed hue.n From the office of your Bay City, MI dentist, Dr. Gregory Rosecrans, learn more about this habit affects your smile.

As far as what goes on inside your mouth, smoking burns delicate oral mucosa. The heat from cigarette--and cigar/pipe--smoke changes the top layer of gums, cheeks, tongue and roof of the mouth through a destructive process called keratosis. The result is conditions such as xerostomia, or dry mouth, a leading contributor to dental decay and gum disease.

In turn, dry mouth and gum disease lead to tooth loss and to failure of one of today's most successful tooth replacement options--the dental implant. While dentists in Bay City and across the country place implants in the mouths of patients who smoke, they will follow these individuals more carefully than their non-smoking counterparts because of the toxins in cigarette smoke. In Spain, medical researchers find that out of 100 implant patients, 1.5 non-smokers will experience implant failure as opposed to 15.8 smokers.

Additional Problems

Typically, smokers have bad breath and reduced senses of taste and smell. Additionally, when they have dental work done by Bay City, MI dentist, Dr. Rosecrans, the sites take longer to heal--for example, when gums are sutured after tooth extraction.

Additionally, smoking correlates with an increased incidence of oral cancers. The Oral Cancer Foundation cites one study by the University of California at San Francisco. It says that more than 8 out of 10 oral cancers are found in people who smoke.

Just Stop Smoking

You can kick the habit with the help of your Bay City. He, in conjunction with your primary care physician, can suggest several paths to smoking cessation, better overall health and a smoke-free smile. Your doctor is the go-to person for smoking cessation medications, and resources from the American Cancer Society and www.smokefree.gov will direct you toward:

• online, telephone and local support groups
• step-by-step quit plans
• testimonials from people who have quit once and for all

Are you ready? Call Dr. Rosecrans at his office for a one-on-one consultation on your oral health and smoking cessation at (989) 892-7832 today!