The National Institute on Drug Abuse found that nearly 62 million people have used some form of tobacco in the last month. Whether you smoke, vape, or chew tobacco, you need to treat your teeth with special care to avoid potential dangers from tobacco use. Here is some information on dental care for tobacco users.
Tell Your Dentist
One of the most important details your dentist needs to know is regarding your tobacco use. Even if you no longer use tobacco, the dentist needs to know you used tobacco in the past. Using tobacco can affect your rate of healing from a dental procedure and can increase your risk of infection. You may also be at a higher risk of oral cancer.
Oral Cancer Screening
All tobacco users should be screened for oral cancer. Like many cancers, oral cancer is treatable and survivable if it is caught early. Dentists can use several methods to check your mouth for cancer. Sometimes, dental x-rays can spot a tumor or abnormal tissue. Dentists can also check your mouth using special tools or lights to spot abnormal cells on your gums, throat, tongue, palate, or inside the cheeks. There are dyes dentists can use as well to spot abnormal tissue.
If the dentist finds abnormal tissue, the typical next step is a biopsy. There are different kinds of biopsies, but in general, the dentist will remove a small amount of tissue to examine.
Care for Tobacco Users
If you are a tobacco user, our dentist may recommend you take extra precautions, such as taking antibiotics, before you undergo a dental procedure. Our dentist may also recommend you use special toothpaste and mouthwash to help keep gum disease and tooth decay from taking hold in your mouth. You may want to visit our dental offices more frequently as well to stay on top of any dental problems you might have.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse found that nearly 62 million people have used some form of tobacco in the last month. Whether you smoke, vape, or chew tobacco, you need to treat your teeth with special care to avoid potential dangers from tobacco use. Here is some information on dental care for tobacco users. 
