Tobacco can have a very significant effect on your oral health. Lets look into what we’re doing to help our patients with smoking cessation Essex, and what restoration options are available. 
Dental impact of smoking
There are very well established links between poor oral health and long-term smoking, which have become a key part of anti-smoking imagery on tobacco products today. Nicotine and many of the other products of combustion encourage vasoconstriction, the tightening of the blood vessels. Both nicotine and various forms of tar are absorbed through the tissues of the mouth and throat, not just in cigarettes but this is actually more so with cigar smokers, who hold the smoke in their mouth for extended periods of time. The tightening of the blood vessels in gum tissue reduces blood flow and oxygen too. Over time, gum tissue begins to die and recedes exposing more of the vulnerable cementing (the outer coating of the roots).
This then exposes nerves to damage and can cause sensitivity to hot and cold. But this usually affects the front teeth significantly more than the edges of the mouth, which has a significant impact on your overall appearance.
Dental staining is the first sign of dental damage. There is variety in the extent of the staining depending on how you hold the cigarette when smoking. Most of the surface stains can be brushed off, but over time it will become ingrained, tartar will more often pick up, staining far quicker than enamel.
Whitening treatments
There are chemical and abrasion methods that can significantly reduce the signs of tobacco use as part of smoking cessation Essex, but it’s best to start with a thorough scale and polish. This allows any stains and tartar to be removed, which could make up the majority of the darkening. After this, calcified plaque is removed and your teeth have a smooth surface. Traditional gel whitening techniques can be used to achieve the desired shade. Bringing your pearly whites back to pearly white.
Restoring gum health
Gum tissue can be recovered. Depending on the scale of the recession, it will be very challenging to recover gum tissue if the patient continues to smoke. We therefore highly recommend that those who have the start of gum disease, quit smoking or at least move to non-tobacco sources of nicotine.
It not only gives minor recession the opportunity to recover but allows gum transplants to be considered, which are more likely to succeed if you are not smoking.
Cancer screening
Cancer screening is a standard part of a 6-month dental check-up and our smoking cessation Essex. This is particularly useful for smokers, as mouth cancers are one of the most common forms of smoking-related tumours, with dentists usually being the first practitioners to notice.
If an area of suspicious tissue is noted during your examination, you’ll be informed to follow up with your regular physician; this should not be considered a diagnosis, just an indication that looking into it further is required. This permits early intervention and maximises the chances of full recovery.