However, recent evidence indicates that smoking may also affect your teeth and smile. A number of recent studies have shown very strong associations between smoking and periodontal disease or gum disease. A Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of the gums, bone and attachment fibers that support the teeth and them in the jaw, explains Dr. Sally Cram of the D.C. Dental Society. If the teeth are not cleaned properly everyday, removing the sticky plaque and bacterial deposits that form at the gum line, the bacteria will produce toxins that destroy the gum and bone which surround the tooth. Untreated gum disease can result in recession and bleeding of the gum as well as bad breath and eventual tooth loss.
Smokers are also more likely to develop periodontal disease that non-smokers.
Studies have also shown that smokers develop more severe periodontal disease with much more rapid bone loss and tooth loss than non-smokers of the same age. Smoking causes the blood vessels to constrict, allowing less circulation to the gums and bone. A Smoking influences the results of periodontal treatment. The prevalence and severity of periodontitis in former smokers is decreased compared to current smokers, providing evidence that quitting smoking is immediately beneficial. Quitting smoking today is the first step to saving your smile for a lifetime.