{"id":183,"date":"2020-06-08T20:29:46","date_gmt":"2020-06-08T20:29:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jldentalstl.com\/blog\/?p=183"},"modified":"2020-07-08T20:29:56","modified_gmt":"2020-07-08T20:29:56","slug":"smoking-and-oral-healthcare-root-canal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jldentalstl.com\/blog\/2020\/06\/08\/smoking-and-oral-healthcare-root-canal\/","title":{"rendered":"Smoking and Oral Healthcare: Will Smoking Increase My Chance of Needing a Root Canal?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jldentalstl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AdobeStock_99982712__1559569912_61960-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"man breaking cigarette in his hands\" class=\"wp-image-184\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jldentalstl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AdobeStock_99982712__1559569912_61960-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.jldentalstl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AdobeStock_99982712__1559569912_61960-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.jldentalstl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AdobeStock_99982712__1559569912_61960.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re a smoker, you\u2019re probably already aware of the plethora\nof reasons why you should kick the habit. You\u2019ve heard about all the havoc that\nsmoking can wreak on your lungs, but what about the ways it affects your mouth?\nIt\u2019s fairly common knowledge that tobacco use increases your risk of developing\ngum disease and oral cancer. However, a recent nearly 30-year study of over 800\nmen indicates that it may also increase your chances of needing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jldentalstl.com\/root-canal-therapy.html\">root canal<\/a> in\nthe future. What exactly is this relationship between smoking and oral\nhealthcare? Continue reading below to find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Connection Between Smoking and the Need for Root Canal Therapy <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the aforementioned study, current and former smokers needed root canals at nearly twice the rate of the men who had never touched a cigarette. Root canal therapy is required when bacteria make their way into the inner portion of the tooth, called the pulp. Cavities, as well as chips or cracks in a tooth, can make this more likely to occur. Under normal circumstances, the body works to fight off this bacterial invasion inside the tooth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, tobacco use hinders the body\u2019s ability to combat\ninfection, leaving teeth more vulnerable to attacks from bacteria. Furthermore,\nsmoking can cause jawbone deterioration, decreased vascular function, and lower\noxygen levels in the blood \u2013 all of which contribute to a higher chance of\nneeding root canal therapy. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If I Smoke, Will I Need a Root Canal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not necessarily. The research suggests that the longer you\nsmoke, the more likely you are to need a root canal down the line. In addition,\nthe longer you abstain from the habit, the lower your chances of needing this\ntreatment. Obviously, non-smokers are best off in this scenario, but you can\nstill drastically improve your oral health if you quit smoking as soon as possible.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Can I Prevent the Need for a Root Canal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The most common reason why people need root canals is poor\noral hygiene. When you don\u2019t brush and floss as often as you should, bacteria\ncan more easily accumulate in your mouth and cause cavities through which they\ncan reach the tooth\u2019s pulp. For this reason, you should brush twice daily and\nfloss at least once a day. Additionally, you should attend dental checkups and\ncleanings on a regular basis. At these appointments, your dentist can detect cavities\nbefore they reach this point, so all you have to undergo is a filling instead\nof a root canal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having to get a root canal isn\u2019t the end of the world. However,\nit is a time-consuming and often costly procedure that can usually be prevented\nby being proactive about your oral health, and that includes quitting smoking. If\nyou need help quitting, don\u2019t be afraid to ask your dentist for resources. They\nshould be more than happy to help! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jldentalstl.com\/laura-mears-dmd.html\">Dr.\nLaura Mears<\/a> is a dentist in Arnold, MO who earned her Doctor of Dental\nMedicine degree from the Southern Illinois University School of Dental\nMedicine. She\u2019s incredibly passionate about continuing education and has pursued\nadvanced training in several areas of dentistry, including endodontics, or root\ncanal therapy. She loves being able to help her patients achieve healthy smiles\nin a warm and welcoming environment. To learn more about whether you might need\na root canal, or if you need help quitting smoking, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jldentalstl.com\/contact-us.html\">contact<\/a> Dr. Laura at 636-464-6668.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re a smoker, you\u2019re probably already aware of the plethora of reasons why you should kick the habit. You\u2019ve heard about all the havoc that smoking can wreak on your lungs, but what about the ways it affects your mouth? It\u2019s fairly common knowledge that tobacco use increases your risk of developing gum disease [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Smoking and Oral Healthcare | Root Canal | Dr. Laura Mears<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you smoke, are you more likely to need a root canal in the future? In today\u2019s blog, we examine the link between smoking and oral healthcare.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jldentalstl.com\/blog\/2020\/06\/08\/smoking-and-oral-healthcare-root-canal\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Smoking and Oral Healthcare | Root Canal | Dr. Laura Mears\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you smoke, are you more likely to need a root canal in the future? 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