Tobacco and Oral Health Smoking and Periodontal Disease Smoking creates environment for periodontal-causing bacteria to exist and to thrive.
Smokers have higher levels of periodontal pathogenic bacteria than nonsmokers.
Cigars and Oral Health Cigar smoking is not a safe alternative to cigarettes as many believe. The ADA even warns that even occasional cigar smoking may pose serious health risks. Smokeless Tobacco and Oral Health Spit tobacco contains at least 28 known cancer-causing chemicals and the addictive drug nicotine. The chemicals can lead to cancer of the mouth and throat. Nicotine can get you hooked on spit tobacco.