| For most of us, there's a clear correlation between | | | | those VSC producing bacteria can flourish. The roots |
| bad breath and smoking: if you smoke, you will have | | | | of the teeth, which are supposed to be protected by |
| an offensive tobacco odor on your breath that all | | | | healthy gums, are not covered with enamel, so they |
| non-smokers will detect if they are close enough. Of | | | | are more subject to tooth decay. In this scenario, bad |
| course, a tobacco odor also tends to linger on the | | | | breath and smoking result from an unhealthy mouth full |
| clothes and hair of a smoker, so tobacco on the | | | | of tooth decay, periodontal disease, and proliferating |
| breath is probably not a very large issue. Surprisingly, | | | | VSC producing bacteria. |
| however, there are more pieces of the puzzle that tie | | | | It's not just bad breath and smoking that you need to |
| bad breath to smoking in other ways. | | | | worry about: other tobacco products carry similar risks. |
| Smoking apparently inhibits saliva production. This is a | | | | Pipe smoking and cigar smoking cause all the same |
| problem because saliva plays an important role in | | | | problems as cigarette smoking, and chewing tobacco |
| inhibiting the multiplication of anaerobic bacteria, which | | | | has all these and more. Smokeless tobacco frequently |
| live at the back of the tongue, and sometimes in | | | | has sugar added to it, and may contain particles of grit, |
| spaces between teeth and gums, and between the | | | | both of which have implications for oral health. The |
| teeth. These anaerobic bacteria (bacteria which live | | | | association between sugar and dental cavities is well |
| where there is no oxygen) produce volatile sulfur | | | | known, and chewing on sand will put wear and tear on |
| compounds (VSC) when they digest proteins for | | | | tooth enamel, also contributing to tooth decay. |
| nutrients. So bad breath and smoking go hand in hand | | | | So it's not just the odor of cigarette smoke on the |
| because smoking decreases saliva and a decrease in | | | | breath and that brownish yellow stain on the teeth that |
| saliva results in an increase in VSC producing | | | | you need to think about when you get close to |
| anaerobes in the mouth. | | | | someone else. The best solution is, of course, to quit |
| Smoking also increases the risk of gum disease and | | | | smoking, but if you can't do that, use a good breath |
| tooth decay. Smokers apparently have more cavities | | | | product that will help control the VSC producing |
| that non-smokers. They also have gums that tend to | | | | bacteria that link bad breath and smoking. That will help |
| detach from the teeth and recede, leaving exposed | | | | a bit. |
| roots and spaces between gums and teeth where | | | | |