Many consider smoking filthy and unhealthy. Nonsmokers find cigarette smoke repulsive. Smoking has harmful long-term impacts on the body. Second-hand smoke harms nonsmokers more than it does smokers, which doesn’t help the habit’s image. Smoking causes more difficulties than just respiratory and cardiovascular issues. Due to the habit’s proximity to the gums, 50% of gum disease sufferers are smokers.

Smoking slows recovery after surgery. This is especially true for orthodontics and dental surgery, which target areas exposed to tobacco and nicotine. Smoking accelerated gum and tooth deterioration, aggravating gum damage. Smoking can induce gum cellular degeneration even if there is no existing tooth injury. Recently identified problem: smoking undoes gum surgery fixes.

Smoking can create various complications with the mouth, teeth, and gums. Plaque is tougher to remove. Unknown to why smokers tend to have plaque buildup that can only be removed by professionals. This isn’t a concern if a person gets prophylaxis every six months. This risks letting plaque bacteria progressively eat away at the teeth and seeking help too late.

Bone and tooth support may be eroded. Smoking kills gum cells and prevents natural regeneration. This is problematic if the gums and bones that support the teeth are damaged by bacteria, dental decay, or other issues. Tobacco causes tooth fibers to retreat, loosening teeth. This may be a lengthy process, but that means most individuals don’t realize the problem until it’s too late and the damage has already been done.

But cigarette smoke isn’t the only cause. Even smokeless tobacco products produce equal damage. Cigars and pipes induce the same cellular deterioration and damage as cigarettes, according to studies. All signs point to the problem being tobacco-related, not smoke-related.