Smoking

In addition to cancer, lung disease and heart disease, tobacco users are at increased risk for periodontal disease, or gum disease. Indeed, recent studies indicate that tobacco use may be one of the chief gum disease causes, a definite factor in the development and advancement of periodontal disease.

Gum disease and smoking are increasingly linked, evidenced by a May 30, 2000 press release in Chicago that suggested smoking may be responsible for more than half of periodontal disease cases among adults in the US, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Periodontology. The journal's study found that present smokers are approximately four times more likely than people who have never smoked to have advanced gum disease (periodontal disease or periodontitis).

In light of these findings, periodontists recommend discontinuing tobacco use for the health of your teeth and gums, particularly the development and progression of periodontal disease.