Smoking gingivitis

Smoking is an important cause of severe gum disease in the United States. Gum disease starts with bacteria ( germs ) on your teeth that get under your gums. If the germs stay on your teeth for too long, layers of plaque (film) and tartar (hardened plaque) develop. This buildup leads to early gum disease, called gingivitis.

Compared to nonsmokers, smokers are more likely to develop deep periodontal pockets between their teeth and gums.

Smokers are also more likely than nonsmokers to lose teeth and the tissue that support the teeth. Gingivitis is a common and mild form of gum disease (periodontal disease) that causes irritation, redness and swelling (inflammation) of your gingiva, the part of your gum around the base of your teeth. Acute necrotizing ulcerating gingivitis (ANUG) has also been shown to be clearly correlated to smoking , but no cause-and-effect relationship has been demonstrated.

It is thought that both smoking and ANUG may be the result of underlying anxiety and stress. The condition involves primarily the free gingival margin, the crest of the gingiva , and the interdental papillae. One study found that smokers were twice as likely as nonsmokers to lose teeth in the five years after completing periodontal treatment. In most studies of nonsurgical gum treatment (deep scaling), smokers improved less than nonsmokers.

Additionally, smoking can lower the chances for successful tretment.

Tretmans in patients with periodontal disease must be focused on understanding the relationship between genetic and environmental factors. This is more serious and can eventually lead to loss of teeth. Smoking has long been considered an etiologic fac-tor in acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG).

Rowland (27) in a series of studies determined that to-bacco smoking was a factor in ANUG and that with the increase in the use of tobacco there was an increase in frequency of ANUG. Smoking and other tobacco products can lead to gum disease by affecting the attachment of bone and soft tissue to your teeth. More specifically, it appears that smoking interferes with the normal. Learn Facts About The Difference Between Gingivitis And Periodontitis.

How To Prevent This Gum Disease. Find Your Toothpaste Today! That’s why it is important to let your dentist know how much you smoke and how long you have smoked. Treatment for gum disease is often less successful in smokers.

Smoking does however make gingivitis or periodontitis much worse. This can be achieved by two mechanisms: Smoking reduces the production of saliva in the mouth, a condition called xerostomia. Smoking also affects the immune system, which reduces the effectiveness of fighting infections caused by gingivitis or periodontitis. You know smoking tobacco does a number on your oral health. But can the same be said of smoking pot?

Studies have demonstrated decreased bleeding on probing and reduced inflammatory response among smokers, which has been attributed to the alterations in gingival microvasculature, gingival epithelium.

Stopping Smoking Almost Immediately Improves Gum Disease. From the WebMD Archives. You should also cut back on any smoking , if you smoke, and manage your diabetes. It is widely known that smoking can have a great number of adverse effects on the health of the smoker. Dental Hygiene Tips for Smokers.

Due to the nature by which the action of smoking is performe it is only natural that oral health would be one of the areas most negatively affected by the act.