What is worse for your teeth in the long run : smoking or sugar?

Question

Ok...so this started as a small debate with my sister and I want to know, what is worse for your teeth? Say me and my sister are 18 years old, we both have the exact same diet and the exact same lifestyle, and both brush our teeth twice a day. However, on top of this, I ate a Dairy Milk bar, a packet of crisps and a packet of fruit pastilles, and my sister smoked 12 cigarrettes a day, in ten years time, who would have the yellowest/unhealthiest teeth?

Answer 1

cigarettes are worse for your overall health. Sugar can't give you cancer.

sugar, in moderation, isn't going to destroy your teeth if you brush properly and everyday. But smoking definately will.

Answer 2

sugar destroys teeth.  Without excellent brushing and flossing, your teeth will be filled with fillings, possible root canals and crowns.  but with great brushing, you should be fine dentally.

Your sister's smoking will affect the color of her teeth leaving difficult stain which can be removed by a diligent hygienist and then her teeth could be whitened.  BUT the nicotine will increase her chances of mouth cancer such as squamous cell cancer.  The first signs may be a small white patch on her tongue.  Then she may need a biopsy of her tongue, radiation treatment, etc.  

Both of you need to change your habits but you would end up with the whiter teeth.

--dentist

Answer 3

Smoking. Your gums will darken and teeth will discolor. Unlike sugar which you can brush off your teeth and clean of your mouth, The effects of cigarettes, aesthetically and health-wise, are cumulative. And no amount of brushing can improve discolored teeth and gums due to cigarettes.

Answer 4

Both are bad.  Sugar will display itself more quickly.  Sugar will rot your teeth themselves.  Smoking won't rot the teeth (although it makes you more prone to have them rot because it makes your mouth dry) but will cause  gum disease so that the bone around your teeth fades away and the teeth loosen up and fall out.  Not to mention the other problems with smoking

Answer 5

Easy....Sugar is worse for the teeth

Smoking---won't hurt the teeth (per se) just your WHOLE BODY!

Answer 6

I've never smoked, but I am diabetic. sugars affect both your teeth and your gums. and I think smoking just makes your teeth turn this freaky yellow color. So in my opinion, yellowest teeth = smoking, unhealthiest teeth (if you don't take care of them) = sugar

Answer 7

Yellow teeth don't necessarily mean unhealthy teeth. And as far as your teeth go, smoking doesn't do any damage. Nor does sugar if you brush your teeth properly. So, I would say you and your sister's entire argument is moot!

Answer 8

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Answer 9

I would have to say that smoking is worth for your teeth, it makes your teeth yellow or even black, and cann make you have mouth and lung cancer.  Sugar is also bad, but Smoking will definitely damage your teeth more.