Smoking and Your Oral Health
It is commonly known that smoking has a large role in the development of lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. To add onto that, it is known that smoking may also cause gum disease, a change in the bacteria on the dental plaque of your teeth which could cause an increase in harmful bacteria that can grow on your teeth and several other oral health problems. Gum disease is identified by the amount of tooth hidden as a result of one’s gums being inflamed. Gums begin to inflame because smoking causes less of a blood flow through the gums causing the gums and supporting tissue around the teeth to receive less of the nutrients they need. The loss in required nutrients is the primary cause in tooth loss for smokers.
Smoking and other tobacco products can lead to gum disease by affecting the attachment of bone and soft tissue to your teeth. To be more specific, it appears that smoking interferes with the normal function of gum tissue cells. As if heart and lung disease weren’t a good enough reason to quit smoking.
Cigarette smoking and gum disease have a direct relationship and this has been known for close to 20 years. Smokers have a 3 times greater risk of developing gum disease than people who do not smoke. The effects of smoking on gum disease is dependent on the number of cigarettes/cigars consumed, the amount of time you have been smoking, and poor oral hygiene. Poor hygiene in a smoker’s mouth can lead to severe gum disease at a much faster rate.
Current smokers were about four times more likely than people who have never smoked. Overall, nearly 53% of gum disease was attributed to current and former smoking. Regardless of how long you may have smoked, quitting now can greatly reduce serious risks to your oral health. With the help of Dr. Rosenberg, an experienced doctor who has helped over 40,000 people quit smoking, can help you quit too!