Covering smoking and periodontal health, bad breath and gum disease
Smoking and periodontal disease is amongst the most apparent dangers of smoking. One single most effective way of eliminating the risk factor for periodontal disease is to quit smoking. Periodontitis is the disease that compromises the gum and bone and areas surrounding your teeth.
On it's own even without periodontitis tobacco and nicotine may cause severe damage to your teeth and gums as shown in these pictures.
The link between smoking and periodontal disease lays in the nicotine effect and other smoke toxins and chemicals that inflame the gum tissue by cutting the amount of oxygen to these tissues. They trigger the excessive production of a harmful amount of cytokines to cells and tissues.
The disease itself has very few symptoms and progresses silently so much that by the time treatment is sought it would have significantly progressed. Heavy smokers who take many cigarettes per day have a greater risk of periodontal disease. It's only a greater risk, but risk in general is higher in people who smoke.Some people who smoke mistakenly opt for pipes and cigars with the hope of reduced health risks. In fact the periodontal disease risk is the same for cigars and pipes.
Housemates of people who smoke are also exposed to compromised periodontal health via second hand smoke.
The emergence of painful bleeding gums or gum disease and loose teeth is merely the showing up of signs and symptoms of a significantly advanced periodontal disease. The bleeding occurs on biting hard food such as apples. Further symptoms including recurringly swelling gums, teeth recession and bad breath.
For those who smoke marijuana, cannabis smoking has been shown to also increase the risk of periodontal disease. Other diseases are also linked to periodontitis such as diabetes.
Smoking and periodontal disease is a potentially distressing development in smokers especially the bad breath which is immediately noticeable. Some preventative and treatment measures include;
- Quitting smoking - when you quit smoking recovery begins in earnest.
- Taking vitamin c supplements - vitamin c levels are naturally depleted in smokers. Go for more citrus fruits including grapefruits.
- Brush and floss your teeth sufficiently on a daily basis
- Antiseptic mouth wash is very handy and can be used daily and also before bed time.
- Regular dental checks with 3 to 6 months intervals so that professional teeth cleaning is done.
There are other techniques that include all out surgery to do deep cleaning of your teeth and reposition the bones. These would require a visit to your dental health care service provider for a chat.
