Smoking poses dangers to oral health

2/8/2012

There are many reasons for people to quit smoking. The first things that usually come to mind are that tobacco use can increase a person's risk of lung cancer and heart disease, but there are other concerns as well. For example, smoking is also one of the leading causes of oral cancer and other dental health problems.

A recent report conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that more than one third of smokers surveyed have experienced an oral health problem such as a toothache, gum infection, jaw pain or stained teeth.

Furthermore, the study found that this population is less likely to go to the dentist than non-smokers, despite the fact that they tend to have these dental problems. One out of five smokers said they hadn't seen an oral care professional in the past five years, compared to one out of every ten non-smokers.

The CDC reports that smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. Employee wellness programs can help workers give up this potentially dangerous habit.

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