4Smile, New York, NY (2026)

01/18/2022

Dental Anxiety

Dental anxiety causes rapid heart rate, sweats, and heavy breathing when you think about visiting your dentist? If yes, you may be experiencing dental anxiety, and you’re not alone.

Hundreds of Americans avoid seeing the dentist each year because of this fear. The National Center for Biotechnology Information estimates that 3 to 16 percent of adults experience dental fear and anxiety. This phobia forms from a wide variety of experiences and factors. Regardless of the cause of it, the importance of seeing a dentist is still necessary and vital for your oral health.

What Causes Dental Anxiety?
Dental anxiety could be caused by various reasons. However, most people who experience this fear are aware that they are being irrational. After all, the odds of a dental procedure being fatal are slim. Despite this awareness, people with dental phobia avoid seeing a dentist and risk the health of their mouths. Many dental phobias come from horror stories that have been exaggerated or mistold. While dentistry’s history use to involve severe procedures and little pain relief, advances have revolutionized the dental experience.
Another source of dental phobia not mentioned above is the feeling of vulnerability while seated in the dental chair. This is due to the uncontrollable drooling and the faces patients make after having their mouths open for long periods. Others base their fear of pain on past experiences and just assume every dental visit will be just as bad. If you feel like your dentist isn’t doing their best to be gentle, you may want to find a new dentist who will place more importance on your comfort. Seeing a dentist is unavoidable if you want to remain healthy, have 4Smile connect you with a dentist who will fit your needs. Simply use our search bar to get started.

Still, people continue to make painful associations with seeing a dentist. They fear the following:
Anesthesia won’t mask the pain
They will experience side effects to the anesthesia
The shot itself will hurt
They will lose a tooth due to the force of dental work
The dentist’s hand will slip
Dentists will over-diagnose
Another source of dental phobia not mentioned above is the feeling of vulnerability while seated in the dental chair. This is due to the uncontrollable drooling and the faces patients make after having their mouths open for long periods. Others base their fear of pain on past experiences and just assume every dental visit will be just as bad. If you feel like your dentist isn’t doing their best to be gentle, you may want to find a new dentist who will place more importance on your comfort. Seeing a dentist is unavoidable if you want to remain healthy, have 4Smile connect you with a dentist who will fit your needs. Simply use our search bar to get started.
How Can I Overcome Dental Anxiety?
There’s a high correlation between people who experience dental phobia and those with poor dental health. If your nervousness is preventing you from seeing a dentist regularly, it’s time you looked into methods for managing dental anxiety.

Managing dental anxiety could be as simple as sharing this fear with your dentist. After expressing this fear with them, your dentist will be more aware of how their actions may be adding to your anxiety and therefore do their best to relax you. Different ways dentists do this includes sharing what they’ll be doing in detail with their anxious patients, allowing you to hold a mirror, or assigning signals for when you’re uncomfortable.

If you don’t think speaking to your dentist will help your fear, other methods patients have found successful include:

Is it ok to switch dentists?
As long as the new dentist accepts your insurance coverage, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t switch dentists. Before you make an appointment, double-check with both the dentist’s office and your insurance that your dental treatments will be covered. You should never feel bad about changing dentists. Ultimately, your comfort takes precedence over everything else. And because there’s no avoiding the dentist, you need to find ways to be comfortable when your appointment comes up. If this means finding a new dentist, your current dentist will understand. At 4Smile, we believe there’s a perfect dentist out there for everyone—one who speaks your language, who understands your concerns, who takes your insurance, and who will do their best to reduce your anxiety. Let us help you find a dentist near you.

01/17/2022

Various Teeth Whitening Options

Various Teeth Whitening Options You Can Choose From
Your smile is the centerpiece of every event. Whether it is a wedding, school graduation, or a casual gathering with your friends, your smile is your social card. Nothing should come in the way of you flaunting your beautiful, gleaming smile. But sometimes, the effects of this picture-perfect generation can take a toll on your mental well-being and your smile. Are your yellow teeth affecting how you interact with people? Yellow teeth are quite damning features and can hinder your day-to-day confidence. If you have ever thought about getting rid of your yellow teeth, you aren’t alone, because it’s reported that teeth whitening is one of the most sought after dental cosmetic procedures. If you are tired of constantly rolling into the incognito mode in social gatherings due to your embarrassing yellowing teeth, stay tuned. We have to right solution for you.
What teeth-whitening options do I have?
Here are a number of teeth whitening solutions commonly sought out today. 1- Whitening toothpaste Popular kinds of toothpaste on TV tell you that it’s easy and affordable to get a beautiful, white smile. Usually, it is. These kinds of toothpaste usually work by the use of certain abrasives like baking soda and other harsher chemicals like peroxide in order to dissolve stains and polish the tooth surface and give it a gleaming shiny look. Some use blue covarine that adheres to the tooth surface and gives it an optical illusion, making it look less yellow. Although they work for surface stains created by various foods like coffee, they will not be able to get rid of deeper stains and will be able to do little to change the natural color of your teeth. 2- Whitening kits (strips/brushes/pens) Many over-the-counter (OTC) whitening formulas work wonders in helping you get a whiter, tighter smile. They work by the use of peroxide that bleaches your teeth by fighting deeper stains as well as surface stains. Check your kits for chlorine dioxide which deteriorates the enamel and breaks it down making it susceptible to tooth decay and sensitivity. Avoid such products. 3- Home whitening remedies
Baking soda: Use of baking soda has been common among teeth-whitening junkies but because it is a natural abrasive, it is deemed unsafe for prolonged use.
Apple cider vinegar: Acetic acid in apple cider vinegar breaks down stains and helps create a youthful and whiter smile.
Oil pulling: Swishing around concentrated oil mostly sunflower, coconut, or sesame in one’s mouth is surprisingly an old folk remedy that is actually believed to detox the mouth and promote teeth whitening.
Hydrogen peroxide: It is a natural bleaching agent and is helpful in concentrations of 1.5% and 3%.
Charcoal scrubs: Charcoal scrubs have been gaining popularity, however, there is no evidence that they are safe or effective for your teeth, according to an issue from the Journal of the American Dental Association.
Are there any potential risks to self-whitening?
Abrasive nature
The grains in some toothpaste products are usually too abrasive for your teeth and can result in erosion of enamel. This leads to the exposure of the underlying dentin which not only gives your teeth a yellow-er look but also makes it sensitive to temperatures.

Failure to contain Flouride
Flouride protects the teeth against tooth decay which is why it’s rather unfortunate that a lot of teeth-whitening toothpaste brands do not contain fluoride.

Failure to remove intrinsic stains:
Self-whitening has turned out to be quite successful in removing extrinsic or surface stains like those that result from wine or coffee, but its success rate in tackling deeper stains has been very low.

Overstaining
Usually the risk of overstaining can be high due to the fact that they are self-whitening products. Also, uneven coverage and gaps of white on the teeth surfaces can be seen.

Damage to gums
Usually with the whitening kits, the material can easily spread on the gums and can cause burns to it.

Safety
Not all over-the-counter products are good for you. Always check for the ADA Seal of Acceptance on your purchase.

Unknown longevity:
These products work best for only a short period of time.

4- In-Office Whitening With a number of different methods to choose from, professional teeth whitening from a dentist is the best way to bleach or whiten your teeth. It comes with a wide-scale evaluation of your teeth and who can and cannot be eligible for the bleaching programs, it is guaranteed to give you long-lasting effects and it is completely safe. Getting your teeth whitened at a dental office comes with an added advantage that the bleaching is going to be even around your teeth without any sets of gaps that are common with self-whitening kits. It also eradicates the chances of overbleaching and exposure of bleach on to surrounding gums and tissues. Thus, no other practice triumphs over dental in-office whitening procedures, and contact your dentist helps you find the best options for you that are safe and sure.
Am I eligible to get in-office teeth whitening?
If you are wondering who is and is not eligible for teeth-whitening programs, here are a few criteria that determine the factors that go into preparation.
Healthy teeth and gums are prime requirements for teeth-whitening. People with sensitive teeth and gums, receding gums, or gum disease are contraindicated for teeth whitening.
Teeth with yellower tones are also more preferred.
Unrestored or unfilled teeth qualify for teeth whitening. Tooth-colored fillings and resin composite materials used in dental restorations (crowns, veneers, bonding, bridges) do not whiten.
Children above the age of 16 as the pulp chamber is enlarged until this age. Teeth whitening to children under 16 can irritate their large pulp chambers and cause sensitivity.
Pregnant or lactating women are not recommended for teeth whitening.
Anyone allergic to peroxide (the whitening agent) are not qualified for whitening.
People with exposed teeth roots cannot get teeth whitening as roots do not have enamel.
Smokers need to be aware that whitening can only show limited results unless they quit smoking.
If you want to escape that vintage-y feel your teeth seem to give you every time you smile, contact the best dentists from 4Smile to ensure your safest chance at getting whiter and healthier teeth. Gain confidence in your day-to-day and make sure not to stop smiling. Flaunt your new pearly whites and smile white and bright!

01/17/2022

We are a group of seasoned marketers, engineers, developers, dentists and oral health advocates. When beginning this project, we understood that it can be a difficult task to find a quality dental provider, while it can also be just as challenging for dentists to get new patients. Time, cost and dental anxiety are also among the reasons that people avoid going to the dentist. Through research of these pain points we were able to develop proper features, tools and resources that bring both parties together in a user friendly, cost effective environment, while providing education and awareness on the importance of oral health. Good oral health relates to good overall health and the 4smile team is excited to encourage this statement through the success of the 4smile Platform.

😊

01/16/2022

Fluoride

Why is Fluoride important?
Ever since we were little, we have been encouraged to choose veggies over candies or sodas, and go to bed only after we have thoroughly brushed our teeth. Parents have always maintained a firm stance on good oral health and the religious avoidance of sweets, the reason being tooth decay. Cavities or dental caries are one of the most widespread chronic dental illnesses of childhood and adulthood affecting the United States.

According to the Global Burden of Disease Study conducted by the FDI World Dental Federation, 3.9 billion people around the world have been affected by tooth decay. That is equivalent to almost half (44%) the entire world’s population! Due to the virtually household nature of tooth decay among people, it has given rise to a thriving market for dental products that guarantee the elimination of tooth decay. The majority of these products have one mere thing in common, fluoride.

What is fluoride and how does it work?
Fluoride is a chemical ion of the naturally-occurring element, fluorine. Detected in forms like sodium fluoride and stannous fluoride, these compounds are what are mostly incorporated in dental products. This mineral is often referred to as nature’s cavity fighter by the American Dental Association (ADA) as it inhibits the formation of cavities in adults and children and essentially strengthens the teeth.

When bacteria in plaque and tartar get accumulated on the teeth surfaces, the enamel of the tooth becomes prone to losing its crystals in a process known as demineralization. Without proper oral prophylaxis, the bacteria begin to eat away at the tooth minerals and initiate the process of tooth decay. Fluoride helps by making the enamel more resistant to the polarizing effects of acid and bacteria attacks and replenishes the tooth with adequate minerals to raise the momentum of the remineralization process, thus keeping away tooth decay and ensuring a healthy oral cavity.

Is fluoride safe and what are some possible risks?
Fluoride is safe and effective when used in appropriate doses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reassures that the safety and health benefits of fluoride use have been well-documented over decades of research. When used in correct amounts (such as those advocated in toothpaste and household tap water, there has been no scientific data or evidence that has linked fluoride to adverse health impacts. However, when taken in high or “toxic” doses, fluoride has been reported to cause a condition known as fluorosis.

Exposure to high concentrations of fluoride can cause dental fluorosis, the affected individuals of which exhibiting tiny white streaks or specks (in some cases, gray discoloration) on the enamel of the tooth. Evidence of dental fluorosis has recovered that it occurs only when children mostly below the age of 6, ingest high amounts of fluoridated toothpaste. It is important to supervise children when brushing to prevent the development of fluorosis.

What are the benefits of fluoride?
Prevents tooth decay: Fluoride slows down demineralization and enhances remineralization and promotes the prevention of tooth decay and helps keep the oral cavity strong and healthy. It is shown to reduce tooth decay by 20 to 40%.
Protects all ages against tooth decay: Studies show that the widespread availability of fluoride prevents cavities in adults and children alike.
Safe and effective: Fluoride is a biocompatible material and does not cause health issues when taken in recommended doses. It is also especially effective in preventing dental issues in communities.
Cost-effective: The cost of a single dental filling is more than an average lifetime cost per person with access to a fluoridated water supply. Fluoridated products are also cheaper and work effectively in protecting against tooth decay and potential tooth loss.
It is natural: Since fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral, it appeals to people on a wider scale than would artificially crafted products.
Reduces hypersensitivity: Fluoride also helps reduce teeth sensitivity resulting from hot, cold, acidic, and sweet foods and beverages.
How can I get fluoride?
Community water fluoridation
For 75 years now, the United States has been drinking fluoridated water and reaping the benefits of fluoride. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), the fluoridation of municipal water has had more than 70 years of meticulous scientific research consistently showing that an optimal level of fluoride in community water is safe and effective in preventing tooth decay.

A Cochrane review published in 2015 discovered that when fluoride was introduced to water, children had a 35% decrease in the cases of decayed teeth. ADA also states that about three-quarters of the public water supply in the US is fluoridated. Fluoride is dispensed to the public through the drinking water supply in an advised dosage of 1 mg/L.

Fluoridated toothpaste
Most of the commercial brands of toothpaste contain fluoride but there are some that are non-fluoridated. It is important to look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance to make sure it contains fluoride. Brush your teeth twice a day for best results.

For children younger than 3 years, begin brushing their teeth as soon as they emerge in the mouth by using a fluoridated toothpaste in an amount no more than a smear.

For children 3 to 6 years of age, use no more than a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste.

Fluoridated mouth rinses
Rinsing your mouth with a fluoridated mouthwash after you brush your teeth can further enhance your teeth’s resiliency against decay. However, children six years or younger should not be given mouthwashes as their swallowing reflexes aren’t fully developed and they may ingest it.

Other fluoridated dental products
Fluoridated gels are available, that can only be applied by a dental professional. This procedure is done twice a year and will give you adequate protection from cavity-creating bacteria.

Some of the dental floss in the market now contain fluoride. Make sure to floss at least once a day.

luoride supplements
In cases of non-fluoridated water supply, the people are recommended to take fluoride supplements. These supplements can be obtained only through prescription and can come in tablets, lozenges, or drop forms.

Supplements should only be made available for children six months to 16 years who are living without adequate amounts of fluoride in their drinking water.

Cavities are pervasive especially in young children so it is important to begin developing good oral habits in children as early as possible. Fluoride is crucial to maintain proper oral hygiene and care. There needs to be an intricate balance between proper food indulges and taking care of one’s oral health. Whether it be through drinking water, toothpaste, or supplements, make sure you and your family receive adequate fluoride to meet ADA recommendations. For more information on oral health, contact us at 4Smile.com.

01/15/2022

Bad foods for teeth

Top 9 Foods That Are Bad For Your Teeth
You may have encountered the phrase, ‘Food for health’. While we all acknowledge the benefits of specific foods and the drawbacks of some others on our body, we fail to recognize that what we eat can also affect the first thing they come in contact with, in our body- our teeth. The social media fad doesn’t plan on dying down any time soon, so while it stays we are plagued with the obsession for better smiles. Whiter, more even, brighter, less gummy, and spotless are some of our favorite words to be able to describe our teeth. But did you know that eating the wrong kinds of foods can actually take these qualities away from your smile? With lots of homestays and family time on our hands, we are surrounded by lots and lots of food that may be comforting, nostalgic, or downright delicious! However, not everything you put in your system is beneficial to your brilliant gnashers. Here are nine of the worst foods (as per the American Dental Association) to indulge in if you plan on keeping your pearly whites as they are. Warning! Some of your favorite foods might be on this list!
Lemons or oranges? Neither!
A glass of lemon water is a great way to kickstart a day as it offers a boost of energy and can even help you lose those extra calories. Orange slices to brighten a fruit platter, a pitcher of chilled lemonade on a hot summer afternoon, or the tanginess of a squeeze of lime on tacos, we have all enjoyed citrus fruits in countless different ways. Citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C and help the body restore its pH balance. Although sour and acidic foods like such are great for our bodies in many ways, they also do more harm than good for our teeth.

The tooth is protected by an outer covering of enamel. Frequent exposures to acidic foods can erode the enamel and make the teeth more susceptible to tooth decay and sensitivity. You should always brush your teeth after you have had a meal that involved a citrus fruit to cleanse the teeth surfaces of prolonged acid exposure. You can even try floating a few lemon slices in your water instead of squeezing it in.

Sticky and hard candies hurt your teeth
Candies tend to linger in your mouth for longer periods of time before they ultimately dissolve even after you have been chewing endlessly for minutes. It’s no surprise that candies and lollies contain excessively high levels of sugar, which is exactly why it is on this ‘bad foods’ list! Constant exposure to sugar can result in ample deposition of these sticky foods on your teeth surfaces, thus endangering your dental health.

In addition to being extraordinarily full of sugar, they can also pose a risk of tooth chipping! Now, who enjoys a dental emergency? A better alternative would be to chew sugarless gum that carries the ADA Seal of Acceptance or better yet, dark chocolate! Since the goal here is to avoid artificial sweeteners in fear of cavities, homemade granola bars with natural sweeteners such as honey are another great alternative. Remember to brush immediately afterward.

Things can crunch!
Who doesn’t love a satisfying crunch? While potato chips or crackers do not make it on the healthy foods list, most people do not realize the health hazards they could spawn. The core component of chips and crackers is starch- and lots of it. Starchy foods have a tendency to get stuck in between your teeth and maybe suspended in your mouth for hours on end. The starch in these snacks are quickly broken down into sugar, and we all know what happens here on. Tooth decay, gum disease, unhealthy teeth- the whole shebang.

Instead, you can opt for sugar-free popcorn or kale chips that can emulate the satisfaction of the crunch factor. Get cozy with brushing and flossing soon after your munchies.

Off with sodas and pops
Sodas are not a healthy beverage. They are filled to the brim with sugar and are essentially sugar in a cup. Needless to say, they are horrible for your teeth. As per the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), if you sip on sodas or carbonated drinks that are acidic constantly throughout the day, you are risking changing the pH of the mouth to make it more vulnerable to tooth decay and plaque accumulation. This is called “soda mouth”.

Drinking water along with every glass of your favorite cola can help lower much of the dental damage it is capable of. Swish around some water in your mouth after every soda cup.

Dried fruits and bad teeth
Though rich in vitamins, dried fruits like raisins and prunes are sticky foods that only get stuck in the tiny spaces in between your teeth. If you regularly relish in dry fruits, chances are a lot of the particles are getting stuck in your teeth.

Turn your focus on eating fresh fruits like apples instead of dry fruits. If you do snack on some dried fruits, remember to floss your teeth. Flossing is key!

Stay away from energy drinks
Energy drinks may sound healthy but the top ingredient that makes most of these is sugar. The American Academy of Pediatrics interestingly notes that sports drinks can be helpful for young, vigorous athletes but unnecessary in most cases. Energy drinks are not only packed with refined sugar but also contain acidic ingredients that do not work in favor of your teeth.

Avoid taking energy drinks for sports. Water is the best option to balance your body’s electrolytes and keep you hydrated.

Liquor-free weekends!
A few swigs of beer on some weekends might not be all that bad but if you are repeatedly drinking alcohol, it can lead to disastrous outcomes for your teeth. Alcohol causes dehydration, leading to a lowered production of saliva in the mouth. This drying-out of the mouth can result in rampant dental caries and other oral infections like gum disease. ADA also notes that heavy alcohol use increases your risk of mouth cancer.

Drink water alongside alcohol to prevent maximum damage to your teeth. You may also consider switching to a glass of microbiome-boosting red wine and completely avoiding sugary cocktails. That glass of strawberry daiquiri will have to go!

Ice is not for chewing
Ice does not contain any sugars or starch, it is essentially just water. How can it be bad for your teeth? You will be surprised to know that biting on hard ice can actually weaken your teeth. Although the tooth enamel is a strong tissue, prolonged biting of ice can cause cracks and chips on teeth that have already been weakened by a high intake of sugar and starch.

Break free of that habit and help save your teeth. Brownie points for you if you start drinking more water to stay hydrated, or stick some cubes of ice in a refreshing drink.

Limit your tea and coffee intake
It is no surprise that drinking excessive coffee can stain your teeth. Tea and coffee are harmful to your teeth as it is, but if you have a sweet tooth and like your beverages sweet, you may find yourself in a bit of a rut. What’s more, much like alcohol, coffee, and tea can dry out the mouth by inhibiting the production of healthy saliva.

Switch to green tea or herbal teas to keep your teeth trauma to a minimum. If you refuse to give up coffee, make sure you drink lots of water along with it to keep your body hydrated and your teeth clean. Serve it without added sugar as much as possible!

Choose wisely what you eat with 4Smile.

01/15/2022

5 Harmful Ways Smoking Can Affect Your Mouth!

In this modern age, smoking has become rather common, resting comfortably somewhere among people who are absolutely repelled by the smoke, people who like hitting an occasional social blunt, and those who swear by it. In a report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the 2018 status of smokers in the U.S. above 18 years of age, the concluding data uncovered a dreadful 13.7% of all adults to be current cigarette smokers. That rounds off to about 34.2 million people in the U.S. alone! Despite the common knowledge of the ill-effects of smoking, people continue to pursue this vile habit. 4Smile is here to remind all individuals about the horrid tendrils of smoking and how your mouth will have to pay the price for your mistakes.

Here are 5 of the most disastrous ways repeated use of ci******es can affect your mouth.

It affects the way your teeth look
Staining of teeth is one of the first noticeable signs of smoking one too many ci******es. Regular to***co use, even if you are not a pack-per-day kind of abuser, can and will turn your pearly whites into yellow gnarly teeth. Dental stains are basically black-brown discolorations on the teeth surface that do not come off with regular toothbrushing but require extensive treatment planning and multiple appointments at the dentist to have them professionally taken care of. The more you smoke, the more quickly you may notice tooth discoloration taking its toll on your beautiful set of whites.

Ni****ne in the to***co products consists of particles that adhere to microscopic pores in the teeth enamel, building up with repeated use and effectively staining the teeth. The number of ci******es you smoke will heavily impact the duration and extent of your tooth discoloration and extended use can affect the ease of stain removal by a dentist. For adolescents and adults who may particularly prioritize aesthetics may suffer heavy losses due to smoking.

It affects your saliva production
The chemicals in ci******es slow down saliva production, opening up a whole can of worms. The quality of saliva in prolonged smokers may also be altered, appearing a lot thicker than the normal serous consistency. Saliva functions to protect the teeth by wiping out any stray or bad bacteria left behind after food consumption.

The low production of saliva (xerostomia), aggravated by smoking and coupled with poor oral hygiene creates an odd concoction and spells out a recipe for disaster. Hypoproduction of saliva can lead to:

Tartar or dental calculus: Low salivary flow makes it easier for the oral anaerobic bacteria to stick to the teeth and gums. Filmy, bacteria-laden plaque soon begins to develop on the teeth and along the gum line. Upon failure to remove this layer of bacteria, it can soon harden into tartar, a substance so tough that it requires professional dental cleaning. Tartar and plaque are the building blocks of gum disease
Bad breath or halitosis: Due to calculus deposits, you may start experiencing bad breath and an altered sense of taste.
Tooth decay or dental caries: Saliva helps cleanse the mouth of its gunk. A slow or absent release of saliva allows more of the food remnants to linger on your teeth and cause tooth decay. In addition, large cavities that exist around the gum line can lead to infections and weakened teeth.
Various complications: It has been indicated to lead to fungal infections like candidiasis (oral thrush), other infections like mouth sores, and the inflammation of salivary glands.
It worsens periodontitis
It is a self-limiting, aggressive infection that involves the gums and bones surrounding the teeth. It is caused by the harboring of calculus and plaque in the mouth. Periodontitis has been reported to affect twice as many smokers as it has in non-smokers. Smokers typically do not have bleeding gums due to poor blood circulation to the gums, so the gum disease may often be well masked until it is too late. People who smoke less than 10 ci******es a day are two times more likely to develop gum disease than those who do not partake in this habit. The figure increases by two to three folds in heavy smokers.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking makes a person more susceptible to gum disease as it weakens his/her immune system. A weakened immune system means that your body is unable to fight off infections that can then lead to a dental concern of a much larger magnitude. Frequent smokers have been reported to be at a higher risk of developing acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, a very painful condition of the gums characterized by rapid “rotting” of the oral tissues. Smokers also do not respond well to gum treatment so it might be better to give up that destructive habit for good!

It affects your immune system
Ni****ne in the ci******es disrupts blood circulation- slows down the blood flow making it more difficult for your body to fight off infections, which in turn results in delayed healing of open wounds especially after oral surgeries such as extractions of teeth and other cleaning procedures. Furthermore, smoking restricts the blood circulation to the gums and affects the normal function of the gum tissue. It worsens gum disease.

Cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemical compounds, many of which can interfere with the immune system. Diseases tend to progress easily when the immune system is not working effectively. Diseases worsened by smoking are:

Viral and bacterial infections like pneumonia, TB, influenza
Periodontal or gum disease
Bacterial meningitis; a disease that affects the protective layers of the brain and spinal cord
Infections that occur after surgery
Rheumatoid arthritis
Cancer
It can cause oral cancer
According to various studies, as high as 80% of the total number of people who have developed oral cancer have had a history of prolonged or repeated smoking. Primarily mouth cancer, smoking is also likely to cause throat cancer. Smokers are 6 to 7 times more likely to develop oral or throat cancer than non-smokers. Eight in ten cancer patients are reported to be smokers.

The Oral Cancer Foundation reports that smoking accounts for at least 305 of all cancer deaths in the United States. Smoking can cause cancer and then prevent your body from fighting it:

Toxic by-products in the cigarette smoke can weaken the body’s immune system, making it harder for the white blood cells to kill cancer cells. As a result, the cancer cells keep growing without any interruption and pose a massive threat to the quality of one’s life.
Poisonous chemicals in to***co smoke can damage or alter a cell’s DNA. When that happens, the cell begins to grow uncontrollably and creates a cancerous tumor.
“Smoking kills” – next time you see this on a pack of ci******es, remember that it is all too true. Smoking may cost you your life. An estimated 438,000 Americans die each year from diseases caused by smoking. Smoking is responsible for more than one in five U.S. deaths. If you or anyone in your social circle smokes, please get professional help or enroll yourself in smoking cessation programs. This simple change can save your life! 4Smile helps you get in contact with dentists who can effectively help you through the journey of smoking cessation and self-improvement. Contact us today.

4Smile

01/18/2022

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