Blog
As you get older, life gets a little more interesting everyday. You and your friends might be going down different paths, some good and some bad, one might be going for gold in scholarships and one might be hanging out in a parking lot instead of going to class. It might be tempting to start up smoking as you gain more independence and the ability to make your own choices, but is that really something you want to do? You already know what can happen in your body if you start smoking, but what about your looks?
A lot of teens forget that smoking can cause your teeth to become discolored until it becomes a full-fledged addiction. Besides yellow teeth though, what else does smoking do?
Here’s a big one: bad breath. What would you do if you had chronically bad breath all the time and ran out of gum or mints? That’s the fear you have to live with if you are a smoker: is my breath going to make this person turn away? While brushing, mouthwash, and mints can help, it’s only a temporary solution to a big problem.
Speaking of brushing, smokers have increased amounts of plaque and tarter on the teeth from unhealthy gums. The gums can easily start to recede and become discolored like the teeth, which interferes with saliva production and general oral health. That means a higher risk of cavities, mouth sores, infections, and periodontal disease the longer you smoke. Yikes!
One of the scarier parts of smoking is that it can not only give you lung cancer, it also puts you at risk for oral cancer as well. That is a serious double threat! Oral cancer can give you mouth sores, excessive bleeding, rough spots in your mouth, and many more problems. Play it safe: don’t smoke. Do it for yourself and your future.
