Since your childhood, you've been warned about the negative impact that smoking has on your body. It goes without saying that smoking is a terrible tendency that negatively impacts both your health and your relationships. Not only does smoke have an undesirable smell and tobacco acts as a carcinogenic, but cigarettes also have a terrible impact on the overall well-being of your gums. Read on to learn more about how smoking affects your oral health.

Periodontal Disease

Gum disease is highly uncomfortable and unattractive. Indeed, this disease is all too common among Americans and is attended by a separation of the gums from the teeth. So, how is tobacco smoke connected to periodontal disease? Well, studies have indicated that the two are closely correlated. In fact, a large percentage of cases of periodontal disease are brought about by smoking. If you leave gum disease untreated for a long period of time, you risk losing your teeth altogether.

Defining Periodontal Disease

At this juncture, you may be wondering: "what exactly is periodontal disease?" Periodontal (or gum) disease is a bacterial infection in the mouth. When this bacterial infection is left to its own devices, it eats away at the soft tissue in the mouth. Eroding this soft tissue over time, periodontal disease produces pockets around the teeth. As these pockets continue to grow and separate the gum from the teeth, the stability of the teeth in their sockets is compromised. Periodontal disease also manifests as a type of extreme gum sensitivity. By this, what is meant is that the gums are incredibly sore and sensitive to the touch, and often bleed during the brushing and flossing process.

The Interconnection of Smoking and Periodontal Disease

A range of studies have been conducted that establish the connection between smoking and gum disease. This connection is mainly founded on the fact that smokers build up twice the amount of tartar than non-smokers. This tartar significantly erodes the health of the gums, attacking its durability over time.

In addition, smoking cigarettes has proven to contribute to a real worsening of gum disease. In fact, research indicates that periodontal disease progresses at twice the rate for those who smoke than for those who do not.

All in all, smoking is a terrible habit that should be avoided at all costs. Not only is it one of the leading causes of cancer, but it also attacks the health of your teeth and gums in an incredibly destructive manner. Talk to a dentist like Pastucka Martin J DDS for more information about how smoking affects your oral health.