What you need to know about Smoking and Gum Disease
Smoking has a detrimental affect on your general health; however, the impact on your gums can be equally as damaging. Smoking has been clinically proven to accelerate Gum Disease – which is the most common cause of tooth loss in adults.
Smoking causes nicotine and tar to build up on the tooth surface and under the gum line. This in turn initiates several potentially destructive occurrences within the mouth. These actions include;
- The tooth surface becomes rough – which then attracts plaque and scale deposits.
- Capillaries constrict – which limits blood and oxygen supply to the gum and bone.
- The body’s natural immune defense against bacteria is impaired.
- The Fibrous cells, which directly hold the teeth to the bone, are damaged.
Gum Disease is caused by the build up of plaque and scale. Over years of smoking, the deposits of plaque and scale under the gum cause gums and bone to recede from teeth. The teeth then loosen and become tender to bite on. If Gum Disease is not treated, tooth loss may result.
Gum Disease can be diagnosed during a routine oral examination with us. If you are a smoker, it is necessary to have your teeth thoroughly cleaned above and below the gum line by a dentist every six months. Contact us today and we will help you recapture your dental health and general well-being.
