Many people know that smoking cigarettes can cause cancer, but few realize that chewing tobacco can do the same. Smokeless tobacco can cause a number of different oral complications. If you are experiencing intense pain or difficulty chewing in relation to using tobacco, it is important to see your dentist.
Watch this video to learn more about the harmful affects of chewing smokeless tobacco. Tobacco can irritate your teeth when lodged against your gums for long periods of time. It can cause the gum tissue to recede, leaving your teeth exposed and leading to gum disease. Users of chewing tobacco have a higher chance of developing oral cancer, as well as throat and stomach cancer. Signs of oral cancer include gray or white patches on gums, difficulty speaking or chewing, and numbness.
The best way to prevent these oral complications is to quit using smokeless tobacco. Call University Associates of Dentistry at (312) 704-5511 for a dental consultation in Chicago today. For more information, please visit us online.