12/27/2025
SMOKING FACTS: (From RDH Magazine):
• Smoking is the leading preventable cause of periodontal disease, cancer, and death in the US.
• Smoking severely damages the gums and supporting tissues, causing tooth loss, bone loss, and promoting harmful bacteria.
• Individuals who smoke have a higher likelihood of tooth loss, bone loss, gum recession, decreased immune defense, and increased inflammation. About 40% of cases with chronic gum disease were due to smoking.
• E-cigarettes are falsely marketed as safer alternatives but still pose serious risks to oral and overall health. According to one study, nicotine-laced e-cigarettes affected more than 148 genes in the brain, which led to major behavioral changes. However, non-nicotine e-cigarettes were shown to affect 830 genes within the same area.
• Smokers of e-cigarettes are more prone to cardiovascular plaque that can lead to heart attacks and other severe cardiovascular problems than nonsmokers. Smoking e-cigarettes can cause swelling, irritation, and damage to the lungs and other organs. It can lead to scarring of the lungs, asthma, and can hurt the brain and heart. It can also lead to lung injury, which can be fatal.
• Smoking e-cigarettes alters the tissues' wound healing and repairing abilities, causing increased inflammation response and oxidation stress. Some other effects included deep pocket depths, an increase in plaque score, bleeding, and clinical attachment loss.
• Quitting smoking offers immediate and long-term health benefits, and dental professionals play a crucial role in to***co cessation support.
BENEFITS OF QUITTING
• When a person stops smoking, health benefits follow. It improves quality of life and reduces the risk of premature birth death, cardiovascular diseases, COPD, and cancer and can also add 10 years to life expectancy!
• Within one to 12 months, the individual will experience a reduction in coughing and shortness of breath.
