One-third of the world’s adult population are smokers. Among them, 57% are men, and 43% are women. Smoking in developing countries is rising by more than 3% a year. With the rise in the number of smokers each year, there is a steady rise in smoking-related diseases as well. The effects of smoking on gums can’t be neglected as gums hold your teeth in place, and their health is critical for the smile and appearance.
Did you know that tobacco use in any form—cigarettes, pipes, and smokeless tobacco—raises your risk for gum disease? Smoking weakens your immune system and makes it harder to fight off gum infection.
Let’s see how much cigarette smoking increases your risk of gum disease:
Can smoking increase the risk of gum disease?
Yes, smoking increases the risk of gum disease. If you’re a smoker, one or all of the following can happen to you, and the degree of damage will depend on the number of cigarettes smoked per day.
- Smokers struggle with bad breath due to bacterial overgrowth, which puts them at high risk for gum disease.
- Smokers who smoke less than 10 cigarettes/day are twice the risk of developing gum disease than non-smokers.
- The number of cigarettes you smoke per day directly impacts oral health. In other words, more cigarette smoking will make you lose teeth faster. Heavy smokers (who smoke more than 10 cigarettes/day) are 4-5 times more likely to lose teeth.
- The longer you smoke (years), the greater your risk for gum disease.
- Treatments for gum disease may not be effective if you smoke – Quiting smoking is essential for treating gum disease. Smoking damages blood vessels, reduces your blood supply to gums, and reduces the healing process.
- You are also at a high risk of developing necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, a painful condition characterized by ulceration on the gums, bad breath, and taste.
Read more: What are dental inlays and onlays?
How does smoking impact your gum health?
Nicotine and other chemicals in tobacco reduce blood flow to the gums, which can impair the delivery of essential nutrients and oxygen. This reduced blood supply can hinder the gums’ ability to heal and fight off infections, making smokers more susceptible to gum disease.
Additionally, tar in tobacco smoke irritates the gums, causing inflammation and making them more susceptible to infections. Furthermore, tar stains teeth and can cause bad breath.
In its early stage, known as gingivitis, you’ll experience redness, swelling, and bleeding of the gums. If left untreated, it can progress to periodontitis, where the inner layer of the gum and bone pull away from the teeth, forming pockets that can become infected. This can lead to the breakdown of the bone and connective tissue that hold teeth in place, potentially resulting in tooth loss.
Smoking can mask the symptoms of gum disease, such as bleeding gums, making it harder to detect and treat early.
What are the symptoms of gum disease in smokers?
The symptoms of gum disease in smokers include:
- Red, swollen, tender, and bleeding gums
- Bad taste and breadth
- Receding gums
- Pus coming from the gums
- Spacing between the teeth
- Loose teeth
Read more: How do you know if you need a root canal?
Will the gum disease go away if you quit smoking?
No, it will not go away on its own; you have to get it treated. The healing will also depend on how long you have been smoking. For instance, if you have been smoking for 15 years, quitting smoking will not give you instantaneous results. The body needs time to repair the damage that has occurred over time. The good news is that your body will respond to the treatment; however, recovering may take longer.
What are the Consequences of smoking and gum disease?
Smoking weakens your immune system and makes it harder to fight off a gum infection. Following could be the complications in smokers:
- If you have had to go for a tooth extraction, you are three times more likely to develop a dry socket, a complication in smokers due to poor blood supply and a lower immune function.
- It takes more time to heal after dental treatment, periodontal therapy, or surgery.
- If you’ve lost teeth due to gum disease, there is a 140% higher chance of implant failure in smokers than non-smokers.
Read more: Is there any alternative to root canal treatment?
How to prevent gum disease in smokers?
The following remedies can reduce the side effects of smoking on gums:
- Quit smoking – nicotine patches and gums may help quit smoking. Talk to your healthcare provider about it.
- If you’re trying to quit smoking, try reducing the number of cigarettes per day.
- Clean your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss once daily.
- Use mouthwash after every meal to reduce the bacterial overgrowth.
- Visit your dentist biannually to diagnose gum disease early on. Regular scaling and root planing can delay the developing periodontitis.
- Limit alcohol intake and stay away from recreational drugs.