Smoking and Gum Disease

There are several factors that could lead to periodontal disease, but the incidence of smoking leading to gum disease is very high. Smoking is an established risk factor for gum disease, one of the strongest factors among other modifiable ones.

Research suggests that people who smoke have a higher tendency to develop teeth and gum problems in comparison to non-smokers. Frequent use of tobacco makes you more susceptible to the formation of periodontal pockets, which is precursor to periodontal disease.

Relation of Smoking and Periodontal Disease

As a general rule, smoking can weaken the immune system, lowering its powers against external infections like gum disease. Moreover, smoking not only makes you more vulnerable to gum disease, it also makes gums harder to heal in recovering from gum disease.

Statistics stress on this relationship:

• Treatment for smokers are less successful as compared to treatment for non-smokers
• Smokers are twice as likely to develop gum disease in comparison to non-smoking counterparts
• The greater the number of cigarettes you smoke, the higher your risk of developing gum disease
• The greater your smoking span, the more vulnerable you are to developing periodontal disease

Intake of tobacco in any form, through cigarettes or pipe, increase chances of gum infection

How to Avoid Periodontal Disease?

You can avoid periodontal disease through the following:

• Brush your teeth twice a day
• Floss every other day to remove plaque
• Visit Edward I. Jutkowitz, D.M.D., P.C. – Periodontics and Implantology regularly to get professional checkups and teeth and gum cleaning
• Quit smoking if you want to maintain healthy gums

If you are a regular smoker, you have a higher chance of acquiring gum disease. If left untreated, it can cause significant damage and eventually lead to loss of teeth. If you spot the common signs of gum disease, you should immediately visit Dr. Edward I. Jutkowitz to seek timely help.