Periodontal care is a combination of activities and procedures designed to preserve or improve the health of your gums and jawbone. Personal habits can significantly impact your overall well-being and the health of your teeth and gums. In this article, we discuss how smoking affects your periodontal health.
How Smoking Affects Your Periodontal Health
One of the most common periodontal issues caused by smoking is periodontal disease, more commonly referred to as gum disease. Let us examine what gum disease is and how smoking leads to this issue.
What Is Gum Disease
Gum disease is a chronic inflammatory and infectious condition of the gum tissue. Gum disease is hazardous because it is treatable only in its earliest stage, called gingivitis. Once it advances to subsequent stages, it can only be managed, but not completely reversed.
Gum disease can lead to such adverse outcomes as:
- Persistent bad breath
- Receding gums (gums that pull away from the teeth, exposing their roots)
- Teeth that become loose in their sockets
- Tooth loss
- Jaw bone density loss
Why Smoking Contributes to Gum Disease
Smoking contributes to periodontal health issues in several ways:
- Smoking weakens your immune system and impairs your body’s ability to fight off bacteria and infections in the mouth.
- Smoking prevents normal blood flow because nicotine constricts blood vessels. As a result, the amount of oxygen in the blood is lower than it should be, and the gum tissue does not receive sufficient nutrients to remain healthy and regenerate in the event of damage.
- The restriction of blood vessels caused by smoking can lead to gum tissue loss, known as gum recession, over time.
- Smoking contributes to plaque and tartar accumulation on your teeth. Plaque and tartar are acidic, filled with bacteria, and are the primary causes of gum disease.
- Smoking interferes not only with the regeneration of soft gum tissue but also with bone regeneration, leading to weakening of the jawbone.
What Are the Symptoms of Gum Disease
The most common symptoms of gum disease include:
- Red, swollen, or tender gums
- Gums frequently bleed when brushing and flossing.
- Pus in periodontal pockets (spaces where the gums connect to the teeth)
- Persistent bad breath and unpleasant taste in the mouth that remain even after brushing and flossing your teeth
- Changes in how your teeth fit together
- Receding gums
- Pain when chewing food
- Loose or unstable teeth
If you notice any of these symptoms, we recommend scheduling an appointment with a periodontist as soon as possible. Remember that the earlier you begin gum disease treatment, the greater your chances are of successfully treating or controlling it.
Gum Disease Treatment
The main steps in gingivitis (the earliest stage of gum disease) treatment typically include:
- Improved daily at-home oral hygiene routine
- Regular professional dental cleanings or deep cleanings if necessary
- Fluoride treatments
- Oral or topical antibiotics, in some cases
Treatments for advanced gum disease include:
- Improved daily at-home oral hygiene routine remains a priority.
- Regular professional dental cleanings (can be done every 3 to 4 months)
- Scaling and root planing (deep cleaning of periodontal pockets to remove plaque and tartar that accumulates below the gum line)
- Periodontal pocket reduction surgery
- Laser therapy
- Bone or gum grafting (a surgical placement of grafts into the gum or jawbone to prompt their regeneration)
- Guided tissue regeneration procedures
- Pinhole Surgery (a cosmetic procedure that is typically used when gum disease is controlled and improves the appearance of receding gums)
Treat Gum Disease at East Highland Dental
If you notice signs of gum disease or need a checkup, do not hesitate to make an appointment with an experienced periodontal dentist at East Highland Dental. We are looking forward to your visit.