Much has been made of the fact that smoking is not only harmful to the lungs, but also to other organs and systems.
In particular, "smoking" often leads to serious diseases of the oral cavity, the most common of which is nicotine stomatitis.
To date, there is no consensus on its mechanism of development. Not all smokers develop it since, in addition to cigarette smoking, concomitant factors such as eating habits (especially a fondness for spicy, acidic and hot foods), inadequate or insufficient oral hygiene, consumption of strong alcoholic beverages, taking certain medications and certain allergic reactions play an important role in its appearance.
Stomatitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, initially appearing as local redness and swelling of the inner surface of the cheeks, gums and/or tongue.
An important factor contributing to mucosal inflammation is an imbalance in the microbial flora of the oral cavity.
Nicotine stomatitis has its own characteristics that differentiate it from other stomatitis. Specifically, the focus of the inflammation is on the palate. This is because, when puffing on a cigarette, it is the palate that is mainly affected by coming into direct contact with tobacco smoke.
Fortunately, our body is built in such a way that, in the face of a constant threat and over time, it triggers a protective mechanism. In this case it will develop a denser and rougher keratinized epithelial tissue, which replaces the normal epithelium after an episode of chronic inflammation, all this to protect itself from the harmful effect of smoke.
According to dentists, nicotine stomatitis has a multifactorial origin . It may be caused by a decrease in immunity, by:
All this in the presence of smoking.
Nicotinic stomatitis is more common in pipe smokers or reverse smokers (who inhale through the lit end of the cigarette).
It is usually diagnosed during a routine physical or dental examination as it often goes unnoticed.
The symptoms of nicotine stomatitis are known to most smokers, but are not always attended to. Dry mouth after smoking or bad breath due to smoking, which are often the first signs of the disease, are often neglected.
Following these, the main symptoms are red, swollen gums and mucous membranes and painful sensations when eating, talking or smoking.
In severe cases, stomatitis may be complicated by the addition of a bacterial infection where the tongue is covered with a thick white coating, purulent ulcers appear on the mucous membrane, the patient is afflicted by intense pain in the oral cavity, is unable to open the mouth, the body temperature may increase and the general condition may deteriorate sharply.
Recurrent stomatitis is not only painful and unpleasant, but is a constant source of infection inside the body, the painful mouth sores do not allow the patient to chew food properly and have an effect on the digestion and general well-being of the smoker.
When it comes to nicotinic stomatitis, natural remedies and other types of treatment can make a difference. Often, nicotinic stomatitis resolves spontaneously and specific treatment is not necessary. In other cases, in the presence of severe and aggressive forms, specific treatment is recommended to avoid worsening of the patient's clinical situation.
The therapeutic treatment to be adopted to treat nicotinic stomatitis in the mouth is based on various practices that take into account the severity of the clinical situation. Generally, the most effective treatments are the application of corticosteroids to the lesions and the use of specific antiseptic mouthwashes such as chlorhexidine mouthwash.
Chlorhexidine mouthwashes are often recommended to chemically control microorganisms and prevent or treat infections present in these patients. Another treatment may be a laser therapy session to reduce symptoms and healing time.
It is advisable to always have a good daily oral hygiene to prevent the appearance of these problems. Not only that, doctors also recommend maintaining a good diet with an adequate intake of vitamins, calcium and iron.
Nicotinic stomatitis usually occurs in pipe smokers and inverted cigarette smokers. It is probably due to the concentrated heat flow colliding with the palate.
Today the disease is less common than in the past thanks to the declining popularity of habits such as pipe and cigar smoking. It usually occurs in older people with a history of heavy smoking.
An inflamed palate can be a symptom of stomatitis, an inflammation of the oral mucosa that causes redness and pain, as well as the formation of ulcers.
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