Smoking - Gum Disease - Oral Cancer

On of the most serious oral conditions that can arise from smoking tobacco is that of oral cancer. And smoking also increases the risk for many other oral diseases, some that are almost completely exclusive to smokers.

Roughly half of the periodontitis cases today are attributed to current or former smoking. Smokers experience widespread periodontal destruction and have significantly greater loss of their bone height.

And smokeless tobacco causes gingival recession and white mucosal lesions. Up to 90% of periodontitis patients who aren't helped by the common modes of treatment are smokers. Smoking has been proven to be a significant factor resulting in the staining of teeth.

Also halitosis (bad breath) is common among tobacco smokers. Other oral diseases that are known to have strong links to smoking are leukoplakia, Snuff Dipper's lesions and smoker's palate. In addition, many smokers report a loss of their taste sensation and/or various salivary changes.

I have known many smokers who have lost all thier teeth at an ealrly age, due to periodontal disease. Their teeth would just become loose and wiggle around necessitating extraction. Some had almost perfect teeth with no cavities. These people wear full dentures now. Quit Smoking Now