LONDON (Reuters) – Smokers are more than 6 times more
likely to develop gum disease than non-smokers but kicking the
habit can prevent them from losing their teeth prematurely,
according to new research published Monday.
Scientists at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in
England have shown that chronic gum disease in smokers
significantly improves after they quit.
“Our study shows that people should stop smoking now if
they want to increase their chances of keeping their teeth into
old age,” said Dr Philip Preshaw, a specialist in gum disease
who reported the findings in the Journal of Clinical
Periodontology.
Smokers are more prone to chronic gum disease than
non-smokers because the habit has a detrimental effect on the
body’s immune system. Their bodies are less well equipped to
fight the build up of bacteria in plaque that accumulates on
the teeth.
The bacteria causes the gums to become inflamed, recede and
bleed. In more severe cases of periodontal disease the gums
recede and the bone that holds the teeth in place gradually
erodes, so the teeth either fall out or need to be extracted.
“Dentists have known for some time that smokers have worse
oral and gum health than non-smokers but for the first time we
have shown that quitting smoking together with routine gum
treatment results in healthier gums,” Preshaw added.
The researchers studied 49 smokers with chronic gum disease
for a year. They noticed a significant improvement in the
disease in the one fifth of smokers who quit, compared to those
who did not.
About 15 million people in the United States alone suffer
from gum disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia.
The risk of developing the illness increased with the
number of cigarettes smoked daily.
In addition to increasing the odds of suffering from
chronic gum disease, smoking is also the leading cause of lung
cancer and other respiratory illnesses and a risk factor for
heart disease.
Researchers have also shown that smokers die, on average,
10 years earlier than non-smokers.
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