Studies have shown that people who smoke cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or any other form of tobacco are more likely to develop periodontal disease. There are various theories concerning the exact mechanisms that account for the increased risk, many of which involve smoking’s tendency to cause your blood vessels to constrict, inhibiting the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to your periodontal tissue (gums) and stunting its ability to heal. Consequently, many harmful oral bacteria are anaerobic, meaning they thrive in the lack of oxygen and can attack your gum tissue more effectively.
Smoking and chewing tobacco can also interfere with your immune system’s ability to fight infection. When bacteria afflict your gums with disease, smoking can dampen your natural defenses and allow periodontal disease a better chance to grab hold of your gums. For help with smoking cessation, or to learn more about protecting and improving your periodontal health, contact Dr. Kania at our Encinitas periodontal care office by calling (706) 642-0711. We serve patients from Encinitas, San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, La Costa, and the neighboring communities.
Our priority is to help prevent and manage gum disease. Unfortunately, though, severe stages of…
When you suffer from a more pronounced case of periodontal disease, this could cause the…
Our team can offer advanced lasers to treat gum disease, but we can also provide…
When you have periodontal disease, then lack of treatment could allow the issue to reach…
When you develop periodontal disease, this could lead to attachment loss between your gums and…
When should you seek treatment with a periodontist? Understanding the warning signs of issues like…