If you smoke cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipe, use snuff or hookah, you are more likely to have periodontitis than those who do not use any form of tobacco.
Smokers are about 4 times more likely to have advanced periodontitis than non-smokers. They have more plaque, tartar, periodontal damage (bone loss, receding gums, lost teeth), bad breath, loss of taste and smell, yellow teeth, mouth sores, black hairy tongue, and higher risk of oral (mouth, lip, tongue) cancer.
The detection of periodontal disease is often more difficult in tobacco users. This is because nicotine and other chemicals in tobacco hide the symptoms (bleeding), resulting in the necessary treatment being delayed. Periodontitis is more likely to develop faster, healing after treatment may take longer, complications increase, less predictable results, tooth loss and there is less success with periodontal treatments and dental implants. This is primarily due to the fact that smoking and tobacco contain more than 4000 different toxins, reduce the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the gingival tissues and weaken defense mechanisms, leaving tobacco users more susceptible to infections such as periodontitis and having poorer healing.
Smoking also increases the risk of cardiovascular problems, such as calcification of the small blood vessels in the heart.
Cigars and pipes
They have the same negative effects as cigarettes.
Smokeless tobacco (snuff / chewing tobacco)
Snus is finely divided tobacco that has been added water, humectants, pH-regulating substances, salts and flavors. Today, snus is found with flavors such as anise, mint and mocha. Snus is placed under the lip, and upon contact with the mucosa, the nicotine is released and leads to the same addiction as cigarettes. The nicotine a person gets by holding a regular slant in the mouth for 30 minutes is equivalent to smoking 3 cigarettes.
Statistics in Denmark show that 4% of 16-25 year olds use snus daily or weekly, while 17% answer yes to having tried it.
Damage has been proven as a result of snus consumption such as that the gums recede, mucous membranes take damage, and discoloration of the teeth. (the tobacco contains gritty material). American snus products contain up to 28 carcinogens, and can thus cause cancer of the pancreas, mouth and throat.
Waterpipe
Inhalation of toxic substances through a hookah (the smoke is filtered by water) is equivalent to or greater than smoking cigarettes.
E-Cigarettes
Research shows that e-cigarettes are very likely to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, lung disease and cancer. Dry mouth and irritation are seen in the mouth. Vapors secreted from e-cigarettes contain carcinogens that damage the cells in the oral cavity at the same level as tobacco smoking. This leads to increased risk of periodontitis, tooth loss and cancer of the mouth and throat. A study published in 2019 confirms that the risk of developing periodontitis is high (odds ratio 1.76). Combined with marijuana / drugs, the risk is particularly high (odds ratio 1,952.38) (Tandlægebladet 12/2019).
Why should I quit smoking?
Studies have shown that smoking cessation can gradually reduce the high risk of periodontal development. 11 years after quitting, former smokers were equal to non-smokers. Smoking cessation reduces medical risks such as lung and heart disease, cancer and costs in general.
Smoking and surgeries
It has been shown that smokers have far more complications than non-smokers, or people who have stopped smoking at least 8 weeks before the operation. Possible complications are: Infection, expulsion of bone and implant, longer healing time, more pain, larger scars, remodeling, tooth / implant loss.
Ask your doctor for help and information about smoking cessation programs.