Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking

Slideshow

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  Damage to teeth and gums

  Yellow teeth are one of the most notorious effects of long-term smoking, but smokers also develop gum disease, persistent bad breath, plaque and tartar buildup and are twice as likely to loose teeth as nonsmokers.

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  Nicotine Stomatitis

  Stomatitis, or oral inflammation, is caused by repeatedly inhaling heated smoke from cigarettes or pipes. White lesions form on the hard palate of the mouth, and excess keratin produced by affected cells builds up on the tongue.

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  Oral Cancer

  Smoking and other tobacco use are associated with 70% to 80% of oral cancer cases. The most common symptoms include a sore patch on the tongue, lips, gums, or other area inside the mouth that does not go away and may be painful.

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  Skin and Nail Discoloration

  Brown stain on the fingers and fingernails of a cigarette smoker due to tar and nicotine build up from tobacco.

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  Wrinkles and Age Spots

  Repeated use of the muscles around the lips when smoking, and the loss of skin elasticity from chemicals in cigarettes cause many smokers to develop deep lines around their lips. Other signs of premature aging include uneven skin tone.

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  Lung Cancer

  Lung cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, and about 80% to 90% of cases are associated with smoking. The white area in the upper lobe of this post-mortem lung is cancer; the black areas indicate the patient was a smoker. Smoking can lead to other lung problems, including pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema.