Gum and tooth disorders are starting to pose a health risk in Himachal Pradesh. These issues used to mostly impact the elderly, but they are now also affecting young people and middle-aged people. Health data show that smoking, gutkha, cigarettes, and alcohol use are increasingly the primary causes of this.
Smoking and tobacco use are causing gums to loosen and teeth to deteriorate. Over the course of six months, 538 patients with tobacco and smoking-related tooth damage sought treatment at the Government Dental College and Hospital Shimla (IGMC) Tobacco Care Center. Sixty-six percent of these patients were under 50, while the remaining 39.4 percent were above 50. Of the patients, 40% were from rural regions and 60% were from metropolitan areas. Just 2% of these were women, while 98% of them were men. 4.2 percent of the patients chewed tobacco, while 95.8 percent of the patients smoked.
Smoking and other tobacco use cause the gums to loosen and the teeth to deteriorate. Over the course of six months, 538 patients with tobacco and smoking-related tooth damage sought treatment at the Government Dental College and Hospital Shimla (IGMC) Tobacco Care Center. Sixty-six percent of these patients were under 50, while the remaining 39.4 percent were above 50. Of the patients, 40% were from rural regions and 60% were from metropolitan areas. Just 2% of these were women, while 98% of them were men. 4.2 percent of the patients chewed tobacco, while 95.8 percent of the patients smoked.
Dr. Ashu Gupta, the principal of Government Dental College and Hospital Shimla, advised the public that the more they abstain from substances like tobacco, the better. According to him, the Dental College’s Tobacco Care Center is equipped with amenities for its patrons, and its team is prepared to help patients overcome their addiction. Alcohol users’ mouths have an acidic pH, which encourages the growth of dangerous microorganisms. This makes cavities, sore gums, and foul breath more of an issue. Alcohol use lowers salivary flow, which dries out the mouth and raises the risk of infection. In addition, drinking alcohol is thought to be a significant contributor to mouth cancer. People should take extra care of their teeth, he advised. Avoid smoking, etc.; brush lightly and perform all of your exercises.
The gums and tooth roots are impacted by cigarette and bidi smoke. It weakens the gums and loosens the teeth’s hold by decreasing blood flow to the mouth. Long-term smoking can lead to periodontitis, a condition where the gums begin to deteriorate. In addition, the teeth become yellow or black due to the accumulation of tar, a thick, sticky, black material.
Additionally, smokers experience issues including mouth sores, blisters, and foul breath. The top layer of teeth is first harmed by chewing tobacco or gutkha. Cavities begin to grow as a result of the teeth being sensitive. Regular consumption of gutkha results in fibrosis, or stiffness, in the oral membrane, making it difficult for the individual to open their mouth. Gradually, the teeth begin to tremble and the gums begin to shrink. This illness may be a precursor to oral cancer. White or red rashes, which are early indicators of malignancy, are frequently also observed on the gums.
