Health organizations the world over highlight the ill-effects of smoking by putting a statutory warning on cigarette boxes. Does their campaign actually dissuade smokers from smoking? No, because the warnings are about health problems in the future. Long-term problems do not threaten smokers. Will immediate problems of smoking deter smokers from smoking or at least make them cut down on the number of cigarettes? We don’t know, but there is no harm in trying.

The smile is the one that shows the most immediate affects of smoking. Let us look at how smoking ruins our smile.

• It stains your teeth. Your stained smile may be disgusting others, but as long as you are not looking in the mirror, it’s OK.

• It gives you bad breath. If you want to chase away people when you talk, continue smoking.
• It causes sore throat. If you call the hoarseness of your voice “huskiness”, keep smoking.
• It causes you to lose your sense of taste. If you just eat to live, don’t bother about the taste and continue smoking.
• It builds up plaque on your teeth. When you are not bothered about the look of your smile or the loss of taste, fear of plaque may not be able to deter you much.
• It causes bacteria to flourish in the plaque. Who cares, right?
• It causes cavities in the teeth. If you can smoke even with the cavities, you should not be bothered much. Keep on smoking.
• It causes an inflammation in your gums. Well, that can be painful but should you give up on the pleasure of smoking for a little pain?
• It causes gingivitis and periodontitis. Again, do you really want to give up smoking because your gums are in bad shape?
• It may cause the loss of teeth. This can be a problem, but then there are dentures!
• It may cause oral cancer in the long run. Everybody dies sometime or the other. So, why should you be scared of oral cancer?

Dental health is not a concern for most people when it comes to the ill-effects of smoking. However, if you think you have already spoiled your smile, visit the dentists next door.

Tags: Bad breath, Dental Health, gum disease, smiling, smoking