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1. Smokeless tobacco products are not safer than cigarettes, even though there\u2019s no smoke. They contain more nicotine, which makes them harder to quit. And products you chew or hold in your mouth \u2013 like chewing tobacco or snus \u2013 irritate gum tissue and cause gum recession. These products also contain sugars, sand, and grit \u2013 sugars lead to tooth decay, while the sand and grit are abrasives that erode teeth over time.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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   1. Smoking increases your risk for oral cancer \u2013 including cancer of the mouth, tongue, gums, lip, cheek, and throat \u2013 because cigarettes contain hundreds of harmful chemicals and at least sixty-nine known carcinogens. Additionally, using smokeless tobacco products like chewing tobacco increases your risk for cancers of the esophagus and pancreas, because you may swallow some of the product. Tobacco products, like cigarettes, contain several known carcinogens.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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      If you smoke or use other tobacco products, your risk for adverse oral affects is measurable by exponential growth. That is, the more you smoke and use tobacco, and the longer you use it, the greater your risk is of damaging your mouth, teeth, and gums.<\/p>\n

      If you do smoke or use other tobacco products, regular dental checkups are critical to ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy. Contact<\/a> Boyett Family Dentistry today to schedule your next appointment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      In honor of National Dental Hygiene Month in October, let\u2019s talk about an issue that affects the oral health of nearly 40 million adults and 4.7 million middle and high school students in the United States: smoking and tobacco use. Smoking or using other products with tobacco in them is one of the most damaging […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":3331,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n