Smoking is a major cause of gum disease because it weakens the immune system, reduces blood flow to the gums, promotes plaque and tartar buildup, and masks early symptoms like bleeding and swelling. This makes smokers more vulnerable to developing severe gum diseases and makes treatments less effective.
How Smoking Harms Gums:
– Nicotine and other chemicals in tobacco products supress the immune response, making it harder for the gums to fight off infections.
– Smoking constricts blood vessels, which reduces the amount of oxygen and nutrients reachin the gums, affecting their ability to heal and stay healthy
– Smoking promotes the growth of harmful bacteria and the buildup of plaque and tartar, which irritate the gums and lead to infection
– Reduced blood flow can hide the typical signs of gum disease, such as redness, swelling, and bleeding which delays diagnosis and treatment
– By reducing blood flow and weakening the immune response, smoking significantly slows down the healing process, making treatments less successful.
Smoking has a major impact on the condition of your teeth in only in neagtive ways. Quitting smoking would be the best option for you if you want healthy teeth throughout adulthood.
If you seek proffesional care so that they can help develop a plan for managing gum disease consult with, Dr. Abid Hidayat to achieve optimal results. As Scarborough’s leading dentist in family dental care, we care about what you need. You can reach our dental office in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, by calling 416-546-5599.