Smokers are far more likely to develop periodontal disease than nonsmokers. Usually the number of cigarettes smoked per day has a correlation to the seventy of the gum disease.
Smokers who suffer from gum disease will not exhibit the initial signs of gingivitis because nicotine constricts blood vessels and interferes with the body's response to the bacteria that cause periodontal problems.
Considering the increased plaque and gum problems caused by smoking, it’s a no-brainer that you’re also at higher risk for tooth decay. If you smoke, you're putting your mouth at risk for three times as many cavities as those who don't.
The fact that smokers have a compromised healing response complicates treatment for these cases. Giving up tobacco - cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and chewing tobacco is the smartest move for the health of your teeth and your whole body.
Both smokers and longtime smokers who have quit will benefit from
scrupulous flossing. Many find that using special flossing implements or purchasing a water flosser or other electronic device designed to clean between the teeth and along the gum line can help fight periodontal disease on the home front.
Smoking and chewing tobacco risk factors:
• Mouth and throat cancer
• Gum disease
• Delayed tooth adjustment with orthodontic work
• Poor healing after oral surgery
• Receding gums
• Tooth decay
• Failed dental implants
