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How Does Smoking Affect Gum Disease?

Smoking is one of the major causes of gum disease and other oral diseases. Smoker's gum disease is an infection in the gums that is caused by smoking.

  1. Prevalence

    • Statistics show that smokers lose more teeth during their lifetime than nonsmokers. In fact, more than 40 percent of people over the age of 65 who have lost all of their teeth are smokers. Also, smokers are five times more likely to get gum disease than nonsmokers.

    Effects

    • Smoking also causes gums to not heal as well after dental treatment. This can be prevented by quitting smoking before starting treatment.

    Reasons

    • Smoking can lead to gum disease by causing tartar to build up in the teeth, destruction of gum tissue and bone loss. Smoking also causes the immune system to not work as well against fighting the infections of gum disease.

    Symptoms

    • Smoking can actually hide some of the symptoms of gum disease, so you should check your gums frequently and carefully. Symptoms of gum disease are red, swollen and tender gums that bleed easily, spaces between the gums and teeth and receding gums.

    Prevention/Solution

    • The only way to prevent gum disease caused by smoking is to quit smoking. Quitting smoking can also reverse the symptoms of gum disease.

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