Why is Saliva Important?

Yes

Smoking poses a problem to general health. It contributes to:

• Heart Disease
• Stroke and
• One third of all cancer deaths to name a few

In NSW in 2006, smoking caused over 5,000 deaths representing 14.0% of all male and 8.0% of all female deaths.

What is less well known is the effect it has in the mouth.

The main damage is to the Gums and mucosa, or lining of the mouth:

• Five times more oral cancers than non-smokers
• Suffer much greater incidence and degree of Gum Disease

Other than staining, smoking does not affect the teeth.

However, it does have a profound effect on Saliva.

Smoking promotes the formation of the thicker ‘mucous’ form of saliva at the expense of the thinner watery ‘serous’ type with a subsequent reduction in saliva’s acid-buffering capacity.

This effect of nicotine explains why some heavy smokers get decay even if they are brushing well.