It is common knowledge that having a smoking habit has serious repercussions on our health, including oral health. Smoking habit can reduce your body’s ability to absorb calcium, affect vitamin D metabolism, and even disrupt hormonal balance. Now, according to a new study, it can also leave long-term marks inside your teeth that last for many years.
Scientists at the University of Northumbria and the University of Leicester have found that a part of the tooth called dental cementum, which is the layer that covers the root of each tooth, is deeply affected by tobacco use. This discovery not only raises concerns for individuals with dental issues but also offers valuable insights for forensic investigations and archaeological research.
What They Studied
The researchers worked on two types of teeth—modern and olden teeth—to find signs of smoking damage on a layer called acellular extrinsic fibre cementum (AEFC). This layer grows in thin bands every year, similar to how tree rings form, and can reveal a person’s age and health history.
In the modern part of their study, they examined over 70 teeth from 46 living people. They found that current smokers had much thinner AEFC layers than former smokers.
They noticed unusual breaks in the cementum growth lines, which appear to be signs of “smoking damage.” About 33 percent of current smokers showed smoking-related damage, and 70 percent of former smokers had it as well. In comparison, only 3 percent of non-smokers showed any such damage. This means that if the damage is present, there is an 85 to 92 percent chance the person was a smoker. If the damage is not present, there is a 96 percent chance the person never smoked.
What Does This Mean?
Dr. Ed Schwalbe, one of the lead researchers, explained that this discovery means we can now tell if someone was a smoker simply by examining their teeth. This can be useful in several important ways, such as:
- Identifying unknown individuals in forensic cases
- Studying the long-term effects of smoking habit in past populations
- Understanding how smoking impacts overall health, not just oral health
Dr. Sarah Inskip chimed in, saying these results basically blow the doors wide open for digging into how smoking messed with public health through the ages.
Meanwhile, Dr. Valentina Perrone, who led the research, was pretty positive about the fact that, for the first time, scientists actually spotted physical evidence of smoking damage right inside a tooth’s structure. So, yeah, teeth aren’t just for figuring out how many birthdays someone had! They can spill the beans about how people actually lived.
Conclusion
Yikes, if you ever needed another reason to floss, here it is. Turns out, skipping proper dental care and lighting up doesn’t just mess with your breath—it can actually wreck your teeth from the inside out. Who knew teeth could hold a grudge that long? Bottom line: Prevention actually matters. Don’t wait for a dental horror story before you book that checkup.
Honestly, if you’re looking for dental care and not sure where to go, Sky Dental’s pretty much got you covered. We are the best dental clinic in Vijayawada and use the latest technology, and, most importantly, we actually treat you like a person instead of just another mouth to poke at. From routine cleanings to fixing the stuff you wish you’d prevented, we are all about keeping your grin solid for the long haul. So yeah, don’t skip on dental care. Your future self will thank you.
Source: Journal Plos