Smokers who are able to kick the habit are more likely to heal chronic gum disease, than if they did not quit. Smokers are six times more vulnerable to gum disease than non-smokers.
Researchers at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in England have found that if smokers have chronic gum disease, their disease improves significantly after they quit. According to Dr. Philip Preshaw, a gum specialist, "our study shows that people should stop smoking now if they want to increase their chances of keeping their teeth into old age."
The study consisted of 49 smokers who have had gum disease for at least a year. The scientists noticed improvement in the disease in about one fifth of the smokers that quit.
Smokers are more likely to develop gum diseases because their bodies are less equipped to fight the bacteria in plaque that can accumulate on the teeth. The bacterium then causes the gums to become inflamed and they in turn recede or bleed. If these diseases go untreated, the bones that hold teeth in place can erode and eventually the teeth may fall out.
Dr. Preshaw said, "dentists have known for some time that smokers have worse oral and gum health than non-smokers but for the first time we have shown that quitting smoking together with routine gum treatment results in healthier gums."
