Yes,
It appears that smoking a lot causes some problems with dental hygiene.
Conor Donnelly Waite Park
From http://www.floss.com/smoking_and_periodontal_disease.htm
Smoking and periodontal disease
by Dr. Anthony IennaThe effects of cigarette smoking on periodontal disease increases with the amount smoked. Smokers have fewer teeth and higher rates of total tooth loss as compared to nonsmokers.4
Smoking creates environment for periodontal-causing bacteria to exist and to thrive. Smokers have higher levels of periodontal pathogenic bacteria than nonsmokers. Smoking one pack per day for 10 years will cause about a 10 percent loss of bone support. Smoking one pack per day for 20 years or two packs for ten years will cause a 20 percent loss.5
Long-term studies reveal that the majority of tooth loss in 19 to 40 year olds is associated with those smoking more than 15 cigarettes per day.
Smoking also has a detrimental effect on wound healing after surgical and nonsurgical periodontal treatment. Nonsmokers respond better to periodontal therapy than smokers.
Gum grafting, which is used to cover exposed root surfaces, and guided tissue regeneration, which is a procedure used to replace missing tissue support around teeth, are more successful in nonsmokers.7
Smoking is a significant contributor to many diseases. If you smoke, try to quit. If you don't smoke, don't let your children start smoking.
1. U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services; publication No. 82-50179
2. Doll et all, Mortality in relation to smoking; Br. Med J 1994:309; 901-911
3. Christen AG; The impact of tobacco use and cessation of oral dental disease and conditions American Journal of Medicine 1992, 1993, 25s-31s.
4. Molin G; Smoking as an additional risk for tooth loss; J. Perio 1994; 65:996-1001.
5. S. Grossi; Annual meeting 1998 of the American Academy of Periodontology.
6. Page and Beck Risk assessment for periodontal disease; Int. Rent J 47:61-87, 1997.
7. 1996 Annals of Periodontology.
David Brauer wrote:
> By the way, does smoking increase the chance of needing a root canal?
David Brauer Kingfield
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