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The Mugford Center Covid-19 UpdateAt The Mugford Center we prioritize the safety of our patients and employees. We have always taken extra precautions to provide our patients with a clean and sterile environment. In these times we make sure to go above and beyond what the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the American Dental Association, and the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners recommends. Our goal is to make everyone who comes into our office feel as comfortable as they possibly can. -Dr. David Mugford and The Mugford Center team. Read More |
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Posted on 1/20/2018 by David Mugford |
 We have repeatedly been told that smoking is bad for our health, and we also know that teeth and gums are at risk too when exposed to tobacco. Presently, smoking is the leading preventable cause of death through various types of cancers. It is a shame that the statistics are yet to get through to millions of smokers. What Is The Fuss?Oral cancer is now a leading cause of death among men and women, and the University of California conducted a study that concluded that every 8 in 10 oral cancer patients are smokers. What does it do to your gums to cause oral cancer? Tobacco mutates cells in the mouth, over time rendering them useless for their function.Periodontitis is another worry for smokers, seeing as the smoke exposes them to twice the amount of plague. It builds up, leading to loss of teeth if care is not taken. The bacteria that builds up on the tooth pockets get worse with time, and it could quickly lead to loss of teeth if you don't quit smoking or at least slow down. Even with proper dental hygiene, a smoker still exposes themselves to plague. On top of plague build-up, a smoker has lower immunity than a non-smoker, and so they are prone to gum diseases. Unfortunately, this means that gum disease treatments may not be as effective as they would be for non-smokers. Solution Well, the most effective solution would be quitting tobacco, but that is easier said than done. As you work towards stopping, you want to ensure that you brush your teeth at least twice a day, use a gentle mouthwash to reduce bacteria build up, and reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke per day. Gum disease is a serious condition that could lead to loss of teeth, before it gets to that point, make an appointment with us for evaluation and advice. |
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