Effects Of "Smokeless" Tobacco On Your Dental Health
Smokeless tobacco, or spit, is a mouth tobacco popular in many parts of the world. Spit has been known to have greater negative health consequences than smoking. This can be due to the chemicals present in smokeless tobacco, such as nicotine and nitrosamines. A study conducted by an Arizona Dental Association showed that these chemicals not only remain on teeth for a long period of time but also contribute to tooth decay and gum disease. The effects of saliva left behind from chew are also dangerous because they can increase your risk for gingivitis and other oral infections while causing you to lose teeth faster.
The chemicals in smokeless tobacco include: nicotine, the alkaloid nornicotine, methylglyoxal, diphenacylguanine, diphenylethylamine, monoacetylmorphine and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. The first three are referred to as major nitrosamines. The last two are present in tobacco products and are categorized as minor nitrosamines. Both types of nitrosamines have been reported to be more harmful than nicotine itself.
Nicotine is a strong vasoconstrictor and has been reported to cause significant impairment of coronary endothelium function. Nicotine has also been said to have a negative effect on the release of endothelium-derived nitric oxide. Nicotine and nornicotine are both carcinogens, which means that they are linked to cancer. In fact, smokeless tobacco is proven to cause oral cancer and mouth cancer (cancer of the cheek, gums, lip etc.)
This is one main reason why spit has more negative health consequences than a cigarette. Cigarettes do not contain these specific chemicals. These chemicals are also more harmful to oral and dental health than the noxious substances in cigarette smoke, such as tar and carbon monoxide. The chemicals that remain on the teeth typically cause a severe drop in saliva production and make saliva saltier. Saliva is one of the body's main defense mechanisms against bacteria.
While spitting results in less damage to the body, it still has a negative impact on your dental health due to its ability to cause gum disease, tooth decay and cavities while inhibiting the healing process of gums and increasing inflammation in your mouth. Spit can also stain your teeth with its pigmentation. The stains can be difficult to remove or have lasting effects on your teeth's appearance.
Saliva is also important to maintain a balanced oral environment. Since spit reduces saliva flow, it weakens the oral environment, increasing your risk for disease. While chewing gum increases saliva flow, it is still lesser than normal and unable to prevent cavities and other dental issues. Saliva helps maintain a normal balance of bacteria in the mouth by washing away food particles that could otherwise lead to decay.
Studies have been conducted on the effects of spit on dental health and found that it can cause gingivitis and periodontal disease more quickly than cigarette smoke does. Studies also show that smokeless tobacco causes an increase in plaque. Spit contains an acid known as "TMA" or "Tobacco Metabolite Acid". TMA is about the same strength as hydrochloric acid, which is a key factor in causing plaque build-up and cavities. The spit can turn into a dark brown color and increase the risk for periodontal disease as well.
Another study has shown that spit can cause gingivitis to occur even sooner than before. Gum recession, sensitivity, tooth decay and gingivitis are all factors due to the chemicals present in spit. Spit could cause you to lose more teeth quicker than smoking since it causes bacterial growth around your teeth faster.
Another study showed that nicotine may be more likely to cause gum disease than other smokeless tobacco products. This could be because nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, causing a decrease in flow of salivary flow, causing gum disease and tooth decay. The smoker in this study also chewed for 3 months before quitting. The study was conducted on the tobacco chewers and then followed them for six months without taking any tobacco products.
Smokeless tobacco use can cause many oral health complications. It can cause gingivitis and periodontal disease faster than cigarette smoke does, affecting your dental health much sooner than expected and creating problems that are difficult to reverse or heal from completely. Furthermore, the saliva left behind from chew is dangerous to the mouth since it may increase your risk for gum disease and tooth decay. The saliva can also stain your teeth, increasing their appearance problems even further.
It is important to chew slowly and surely while chewing gum as this will help protect your oral health. In addition, it is best to avoid chewing tobacco products as much as possible due to the increased harm they pose on your dental health. In some cases, you could even need dental treatments such as scaling and root planing in order to recover from these negative effects of tobacco use.
What Should You Do if You Use Smokeless Tobacco?
If you are using or have used smokeless tobacco in the past, it is important to visit your dentist to determine if you are at risk for oral health problems. If you are diagnosed early, treatment can be provided to help correct these issues before they become worse and more difficult to treat. In addition, your dentist can fit you for a custom mouth guard (night guard) to help minimize tooth damage from clenching and/or grinding of teeth due to stress or anxiety. Your mouth guard will also protect your teeth from future damage caused by smoking/chewing tobacco.
The American Dental Association has a list of signs and symptoms that suggest the use of smokeless tobacco. This list serves as a guideline to your dentist, helping him/her determine if you are using or have used smokeless tobacco. You can find this list here: Smokeless Tobacco Use and Its Effects
If you would like to receive more information about how your diet and lifestyle choices can affect your oral health, please fill out our Patient Registration Form or call our office at (631) 887-5622 to schedule an appointment. Please click here for directions on how to find our office at 588 Northwood Blvd., West Islip, NY 11795 .
Author: Lorraine Kreiner-Rowe, DDS, MS
Dr. Lorraine Kreiner-Rowe is an active member of the Suffolk County Dental Society and attends many continuing education conferences in New York City each year. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Dentistry, and completed her residency at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program. What sets Dr. Kreiner-Rowe apart is her commitment to providing dental care that improves patient confidence and promotes oral health throughout Long Island. With over 25 years of experience, Dr.
Conclusion
When you compare the two, one becomes perfectly clear. Cigarette smoke is actually worse for your oral health than any of these other products like: chewing tobacco, dipping tobacco and snuff. These other products do not cause as much damage as cigarette smoke does to your mouth. If you are serious about improving your oral health and cutting back on the harmful habits connected to smoking, losing all (or at least most) of your teeth is an excellent way to start.
This blog was originally posted here. Originally published in the 2013 America's Health Journal
For more information on smoking and oral health visit: Oral Health Guidelines for Smokers
Dr. Michael J.