Gum Disease and Smoking

Gum disease and smoking are closely connected. Tobacco use is a strong risk factor for gum disease, gum disease and smoking are mutually connected. It is not just having the smoke in your mouth that affects the gums. Nicotine actually makes it easier for the bacteria that are normally in your mouth to lead to inflammation.

Tobacco makes it easier for gum disease to occur, therefore makes it more severe and more difficult to eradicate. Thus, we need to treat your condition more aggressively than a non-smoker.

Gum disease can occur without you even knowing it. As on-going gum disease is strongly linked with an increased risk for heart disease and other serious diseases. We will follow you closely and continually check for the formation of any areas of gum disease. Also we will recommend treatment at the earliest signs of disease since watching and waiting can be dangerous in your case – things can get worse in a hurry.

We will recommend seeing you more frequently than twice a year. We know through solid research that it takes about 2-3 months for bacteria to reorganise and cause disease. Since it is easier for bacteria to lead to problems in your case we need to see you more frequently to make sure that we eliminate any small flare-ups before they turn into bigger problems.

Furthermore growing research is suggesting that second hand smoke can increase the risk for gum disease. It is important to screen if other members of your household have a presence of gum disease. f

Would you like to quit smoking? 

There are newer medications that can make it substantially easier. Used in a carefully coordinated approach these medications are proving to greatly increase the chance of successfully quitting. Ask us and we will gladly refer you to a physician who can get you on the path towards becoming smoke free. For tips on quitting by hypnotherapy click here or visit the Irish Cancer Society for other tips.