Most people are aware of the effect that smoking can have on their body and general health, but many are unaware of the effects that smoking has on their mouths. These include:
- increased risk of oral cancer
- gum disease
- stained teeth
- bad breath (halitosis/oral malodour)
- tooth loss
- loss of taste and smell
- reduced blood supply to the mouth
- increased build-up of plaque biofilm and tartar on your teeth
- delayed healing following tooth extraction and other surgery in the mouth
The list of symptoms below can be found on the Mouth Cancer Foundation website https://www.mouthcancerfoundation.org/.
Things to look out for:
- Ulcers that do not heal within 3 weeks
- Pain or discomfort in the mouth
- Lumps and swellings of no obvious cause in the mouth or neck
- Bleeding from the mouth or throat
- Red or white patches inside the mouth
- Changes in texture- hardness, roughness
- Teeth that become loose
- Difficulty or pain when swallowing, chewing or moving the jaw
- Persistent hoarseness or changes to the voice
- Persistent coughing or the feeling that something is ‘stuck’ in the throat
- Numbness or tingling of the lips or tongue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Dentures that suddenly stop fitting properly
Did you know that Mouth Cancer kills one person EVERY THREE HOURS in the UK because of late detection? If in doubt, get checked out!