Why are smokers more at risk from gum disease?

Gum disease, or gingivitis, is caused by the build up of plaque bacteria on, around and in between your teeth. This can irritate gums so they become red, swollen and may bleed when brushing and flossing. If left untreated this can become more severe and may even lead to tooth loss.

Because smoking weakens your body’s ability to fight off infection, it makes it harder combat gum infection and, once your gums are damaged, smoking makes it harder to combat gum infection.2

The other reason that smokers are more at risk is because smoking can mask the signs of gum disease.

Bleeding gums when brushing and flossing are a common symptom of gingivitis but, because nicotine restricts the blood flow to the gums, smokers may not experience this early warning sign of gum disease.3

Healthy gums are pink in colour and if they become red it may be a sign that gum disease is setting in. This is another signal that can be missed if you smoke as the gums of heavy smokers can become grey and discoloured.4

Why gum disease may be worse for smokers

If these early symptoms are missed gum disease may not be spotted until it is more serious. This is a problem as, once smokers develop gingivitis it’s harder to treat. Why? Because smoking reduces your body’s ability to combat and heal gum infection5 and treatments may not work as well as they do for non-smokers.6 This means smokers tend to have more severe gum disease and are more likely to suffer tooth loss as a result.7

How to prevent gum disease

Step one is to give up smoking. Even for people with severe gum disease, quitting smoking makes a big difference.8 So if you need another good reason to quit, stopping smoking will help to keep your gums and teeth healthy.

Getting rid of plaque bacteria with a good oral health routine will also help to improve gum health. Brushing twice daily with parodontax toothpaste physically removes the build up of bacteria along the gumline, helping to keep gums healthy and teeth strong. 

It is particularly important for smokers to have regular check-ups, because a professional examination may pick up the signs of gum disease even if they are masked by smoking. Your dentist can also advise on what you can do to prevent gingivitis from getting worse.