We have been thinking about the relationship between gum disease and smoking!
Gum disease is an infection of the gums that can result in bone loss and in severe cases may cause teeth to become loose and fall out. Smoking weakens the body’s immune system and makes it harder to fight off gum infections. This is why dentists strongly encourage their patients to never start smoking and to quit if it’s already a habit.
The best way to maintain healthy gums are the basics:
Brush your teeth morning and night
Floss daily
Visit your dentist regularly
Avoid smoking
Speaking about smoking can be a very sensitive topic. We hope to convey compassion to those who struggle to quit smoking and encourage them to seek to quit. Even lowering the amount of tobacco products used can help! For those who wish to quit smoking or chewing tobacco, we recommend looking at the website: smokefree.gov and reaching out to their medical provider to come up with a plan to lower and quit tobacco use. Some medications may be helpful in supporting this important health promoting goal. And regular dental cleanings can make a big impact on preventing gum disease! As always, we welcome new patients and please reach out if you have any questions about the state of your gums :)