SMOKING AND GUM

Smoking may be responsible for more than half of the cases of periodontal disease among adults in this country.

          Tobacco use reduces the delivery of oxygen and nutrient to gingival tissue, impairs body defence mechanism making smokers more susceptible to infection like periodontal disease. In addition, following periodontal treatment or any type of oral surgery, the chemicals in tobacco can slow down the healing process and make the treatment result less predictable.

As a smoker, you are more likely than non-smokers to have the following problems:-

·        Oral cancer                  

·        Bad breath

·        Stained teeth

·        Tooth loss

·        Lose of taste

·        Less success with periodontal treatment

·        Less success with dental implants

·        Gum recession

·        Mouth sores

Quitting seems to gradually erase the harmful offeets of tobacco use on periodontal health.

Smoking causes 50% of gum disease. If you smoke >20 cigarrettes a day, risk of losing your teeth is very high. For the sake of your oral health, quit smoking or smoke  < 5 cigarrettes a day.