As you know, smoking has been linked to lung disease, cancer and heart disease, but did you know that smokers are 3 to 6 times more likely to develop periodontal disease and are 2 times more likely to lose their teeth?
Periodontal disease occurs when your teeth, gums and/or bones surrounding your teeth become infected and smoking aids in the development of periodontal disease by reducing the amount of saliva produced , which helps wash away the bacteria that may cause periodontal disease and by damaging the body’s ability to fight off infection.
We know you have probably heard it a thousand times before, but if you are a smoker you should seriously consider quitting. Periodontal disease is reversible if you work at it.