Health Effects of Smoking on the Mouth, Throat Larynx, Esophagus

The mouth and throat (also called your pharynx) are the body’s entry points for food and air. The esophagus is a muscular tube that moves food from your mouth into your stomach. The larynx allows the passage of air to and from your lungs. The larynx is sometimes called the voice-box because it is used to create the sounds of speech.

The Health Effects of Smoking on the Mouth, Throat Larynx, Esophagus

Smokers have more periodontitis or gum disease than nonsmokers.

Smoking causes oral or mouth cancer.

When people smoke pipes or cigars, they are also at increased risk of getting mouth cancer. Reducing the use of cigarettes, pipes, cigars, smokeless tobacco and other tobacco products could prevent most of the estimated 30,200 new cases and 7,800 deaths from oral cavity and pharynx cancers annually in the United States.

Smoking causes throat cancer.

Smoking causes cancer of the larynx.

In 2003, roughly 3,800 deaths occurred from laryngeal cancer, in the United States.

Smoking causes cancer of the esophagus.

Esophageal cancer is the seventh leading cause of cancer death in men in the United States. Reductions in smoking and in use of smokeless tobacco could prevent many of the approximately 12,300 new cases and 12,000 deaths from esophageal cancer that occur annually in the United States.

Smokers are more likely to have upper respiratory tract infections like colds and sore throats due to viral or bacterial infections. Smoking harms the body’s ability to fight infections.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking

The risk of mouth, throat, and esophagus cancers are cut in half five years after quitting smoking completely.

The risk of larynx cancer is reduced after quitting.

Smokers who quit will be at lower risk for upper and lower respiratory illnesses such as colds, flu, bronchitis, and pneumonia.

Smokers who quit may cough less, feel less tired and less short of breath, and have less congestion.

Source: Surgeon General's 2004 Report

Health Effects of Smoking on the Body

Brain

Eyes

Mouth, Throat Larynx, Esophagus

Lungs

Heart

Stomach

Kidneys

Bladder

Pancreas

Pregnancy

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