Smokers Have a Higher Risk of Tooth Loss than Non-Smokers

It has been common knowledge for many years that the body’s ability to heal itself and recover from surgery is significantly hindered by the use of tobacco. It is for this reason that surgeons often require patients who need to undergo major surgery quit smoking 6 months prior to their surgery date. But did you know that recent studies have confirmed that regular smokers also have a significantly increased risk of tooth loss too?

According to the Journal of Dental Research the association between smoking and the incidence of tooth loss was stronger in men than women, and also stronger in younger versus older individuals. Researchers found female smokers were 2.5 times more likely to lose their teeth than a nonsmoker, while males smokers were 3.6 times more likely to lose their teeth. These findings were independent of other risk factors such as diabetes, and were based on 23,376 participants in three different age groups.

Most teeth are lost as a result of either severe tooth decay or periodontal disease. It has been common knowledge for many years that smoking is a strong risk factor for periodontal disease, so that may go a long way toward explaining the higher rate of tooth loss in smokers.

The good news is that researchers also found that smoking cessation was consistently associated with a reduction in tooth loss risk, with the risk of tooth loss approaching that of people who have never smoked after 10-20 years of cessation.



About the Author: Dr. Anthony Dailley is a practicing general dentist in Berkeley California. He has been practicing since 1981 and graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in Cell & Molecular Biology, and obtained his dental degree from the Pacific School of Dentistry. Dr. Dailley also holds a fellowship position with the International Congress of Oral Implantologist (ICOI). Dr. Dailley has also been a founder in a biotech company called NovaBay Pharmaceuticals and was a member of their board of directors from 1997-2014.  

Help Support your Healthy Teeth & Saliva

Essential For Those With Dry Mouth Conditions

A Quantum Leap in the Science of Oral Care

    Developed after 40 years of research on saliva chemistry at Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine in New York, BasicBites™ which is a sugar free chocolate flavored soft chew, helps maintain the proper acid-base (pH) levels that are necessary for the prevention of tooth decay and also bad breath conditions. When the oral cavity experiences a reduction in salivary flow the pH in the oral cavity becomes more acidic, thus greatly increasing the risk of gum disease, tooth decay and even halitosis. For more information on how to resolve a halitosis condition see our other web site. This more acidic oral environment results in an overgrowth of the gram (-) anaerobic bacteria (halitosis causing bacteria) in the mouth. This more acidic environment also greatly increases the risk of tooth decay in individuals suffering from xerostomia or dry mouth conditions. Xerostomia is common in older patients whose metabolisms have either slowed or are taking medications that reduce their salivary flow. BasicBites™ acts to neutralize the acidic environment caused by xerostomia, and by "sports" or "power" drinks such as Gatorade®. These drinks are very acidic and are known to produce pitting in the teeth, especially in children.

The saliva-mimicking technology in BasicBites™ consists of two main ingredients – arginine bicarbonate and calcium carbonate. Arginine is an amino acid found in saliva and naturally present in many foods. When used twice a day, BasicBites™, will support the proper pH levels on the surfaces of the oral cavity. Keeping the pH of the surfaces of the teeth balanced is extremely important in preventing tooth decay. The bacteria responsible for dental decay produce acids that dissolve the enamel and produce what is commonly referred to as a cavity. BasicBites™ will produce a thin alkali coating on the teeth and other surfaces in the mouth and counters the acids being produced by these bacteria. Because of the proclivity to tooth decay we recommend that people who experience dry mouth conditions or are prone to tooth decay chew two BasicBites™ per day. BasicBites™ also provides calcium to the diet, and studies show that many adults today have insufficient levels of calcium in the bodies and need to take calcium supplements, especially post-menopausal women.  Each BasicBites™ contains 20 calories. If you have any questions about BasicBites™ please feel free to ask us about this new product. We do keep it in stock it in our office if you feel you might benefit from it.

About the author: Dr. Anthony Dailley is a practicing general dentist in Berkeley California. He has been practicing since 1981 and graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in Cell & Molecular Biology, and obtained his dental degree from the Pacific School of Dentistry. Dr. Dailley has also been a founder in a biotech company called NovaBay Pharmaceuticals and was a member of their board of directors from 1997 -2014.

Your Diet and the Health of Your Teeth

 You may not know it but your diet can affect the health of your teeth in more ways than you might think. Traditionally we think of foods with high sugar contents as being the only culprits that can affect the health of our teeth but there are others. With the advent of  "power or energy" drinks there has been a marked increase in the number of people's teeth being damaged by these types of drinks. We are seeing it primarily in children because of their frequent consumption of drinks such as Gatorade and Powerade at their sporting events. These drinks do not contain high levels of sugars but instead they are highly acidic, and it is the low pH of the drink that is doing the damage. We often see the affects of these highly acidic drinks on teeth in the form of deep pitting of the teeth and erosion of the enamel. The damage can sometimes be quite extensive. Certain foods if consumed regularly can also affect the enamel of one's teeth. In our office we have seen people's teeth completely destroyed as a result of habits such as sucking on lemons. Lemon's are highly acidic and will erode tooth structure over time if eaten in inappropriate manners. Some people enjoy eating lots of citric fruits or even sucking on them, but the results of these habits can be very devastating to the teeth. We're not recommending you avoid all foods that are acidic but moderation is the key. As for the energy drinks that are so prevalent these days these are best kept to a minimum. Below is chart showing some common foods and their accompanying acidity levels.
Experts believe that consuming as few as four acidic drinks or foods a day can increase the risk of acid erosion to your teeth.

About the author: Dr. Anthony Dailley is a practicing general dentist in Berkeley California. He has been practicing since 1981 and graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in Cell & Molecular Biology, and obtained his dental degree from the Pacific School of Dentistry. Dr. Dailley has also been a founder in a biotech company called NovaBay Pharmaceuticals and was a member of their board of directors from 1997 -2014.