Want Some Life Saving Advice? Ask Your About Tobacco Use and 7/16/10

As if the oral effects of bad breath, stained of missing teeth than nonsmokers; and although teeth, loss of taste and smell, mouth (canker) their bleed less, it is most often because sores, failure of dental implants, and oral cancer nicotine constricts blood vessels, not because their weren’t enough, tobacco use is implicated in the gums are healthier. In addition, tobacco smokers gum recession, bone loss, and associ- are more likely than nonsmokers to have ated with periodontal (gum) disease. (hardened or calcified ) formation on Smokers who smoked less than a half a pack their teeth, to have developed periodontal pockets, of cigarettes per day are almost three times more to have lost bone that supports teeth, and to have likely than nonsmokers to have periodontitis, ac- lost supporting tissue that attaches the tooth to cording to a study by researchers at the Centers the bone.1 for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Tobacco use can also affect the success of Georgia. The same study found that those who periodontal treatment. Cigarette smoke contains smoked more than a pack and a half of cigarettes over 4,800 chemicals, 69 of which are known to per day had almost six times the risk. cause cancer. When a smoker lights a cigarette Periodontal diseases, including and and inhales, these toxins are drawn into the lungs. periodontitis, are severe infections, and if left From there, they enter the bloodstream, which untreated, they can lead to tooth loss. Periodontal delivers them to every cell throughout the body, disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects which cannot defend itself from them. Smoking the gum tissue, bone, and attachment fibers that also reduces the delivery of oxygen and nutrients support the teeth and hold them in place in the jaw bone. It occurs when plaque (a soft, sticky, color- The Warning Signs of Periodontal less film of bacteria) forms on the teeth and at the gumline and in- Disease fects the gum tissue, causing gin- If you are a tobacco user, is to stop smoking or stop givitis (inflammation and reddening consider if you have the using smokeless tobacco in of the gums). If periodontal disease most common symptoms of order to prevent periodon- is not treated with professional periodontal disease: tal disease, as well as other prophylaxis (teeth cleaning) and, in • Bleeding gums during diseases associated with some cases, surgery, it can lead to brushing tobacco use. If you are a moderate-to-advanced periodontitis • Red, swollen, or tender smoker, please consult your and further destruction of the bone gums physician regarding a tobac- and gum tissue. Tooth loss may • Gums that have pulled co cessation program.Your occur and teeth may have to be away from the teeth dental hygienist is another removed. • Persistent bad breath good source of information Recent studies have shown that • Pus between the teeth about smoking, how to find tobacco use in the form of ciga- and gums resources on quitting, and 1 rette, cigar, or pipe smoking, as • Loose or separating its effect on your oral and 2 well as smokeless tobacco use, teeth overall health. For more are significant risk factors in the • A change in the way your information about proper development and progression of teeth fit together when oral health care, as well as periodontal disease. In turn, re- you bite brushing-and-flossing in- search links periodontal disease to • A change in the fit of structions, please ask your 3 increased risk of heart disease, partial registered dental hygienist, 4 5 stroke, poorly controlled diabetes, If you have any of the or visit www.adha.org. 6 respiratory disease, and premature periodontal symptoms listed 7 babies. above, please consider Research shows that cigarette, ci- consulting your oral health gar, and pipe smokers have a high- care professional for a er prevalence of moderate-tosevere complete periodontal evalu- periodontitis and higher prevalence ation to determine if you 444 N Michigan Ave and extent of attachment loss and have periodontal disease. Suite 3400 Chicago, IL 60611 gum recession than nonsmokers. Consider how important it They also have a higher number to the gingival tissue, and it interferes with healing 1. Albandar JM, Streckfus CF, Adesanya MR, Winn DM: Cigar pipe, and and makes smokers less likely to respond to treat- cigarette smoking as risk factors for periodontal disease and tooth ment, lengthening the time it takes for treatments loss. Journal of 2000;71(12)1874-1881. to work. 2. Tobacco use increases the risk of gum disease. Available at http:// Smokeless tobacco—tobacco or a tobacco www.perio.org/consumer/smoking.htm. blend that users chew, inhale, or suck rather than 3. Buhlin K, Gustafsson A, Ahnve S, et al.: Oral health in women with smoke—also contributes to gum disease. Studies coronary heart disease. Journal of Periodontology 2005;76(4):544- have shown that about 7–27% of regular smoke- 550. less tobacco users have gum recession and may 4. Scannapieco FA, Bush RB, Paju S: Associations between peri- lose the bone around the teeth and experience odontal disease and risk for atherosclerosis, cardiovascular dis- tooth loss.8 In addition, smokeless tobacco causes ease, and stroke. A systematic review. Annals of Periodontology leukoplakia,9 white patches that form on the site 2003;8(1):38-53. where the user holds the tobacco. Research has 5. Campus G, Salem A, Uzzau S, et al.: Diabetes and periodon- also linked chewing tobacco to dental caries (cavi- tal disease: A case-control study. Journal of Periodontology ties).10 2005;76(3):418-425. 6. Scannapieco FA, Wang B, Shiau HJ: Oral bacteria and respiratory infection: Effects on respiratory pathogen adhesion and epithelial cell proinflammatory cytokine production. Annals of Periodontology 2001;6(1):78-86. 7. American Academy of Periodontology Statement Regarding Peri- odontal Management of the Pregnant Patient. Journal of Periodon- tology 2004;75(3):495-495. 8. American Cancer Society: Smokeless tobacco. Available at http:// www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_10_2x_Smokeless_To- bacco_and_Cancer.asp?sitearea=PED 9. Shulman JD, Beach MM, Rivera-Hidalgo F: The prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in U.S. adults: Data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994. Journal of the American Dental Association 2004;135:1279-1286. 10. Tomar SL, Winn DM: Chewing tobacco use and dental caries among U.S. men. Journal of the American Dental Association 1999;130(11):1601-1610.