Periodontal Disease and Smoking Published April 21, 2009 By Julie Conklin Minot Air Force Base Dental Clinic MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Active smoking is one of the most important risk factors for Periodontal Disease (gum disease) and is attributed to more than half of the periodontal cases in the United States. Periodontitis destroys the soft tissues and bone that support the teeth, which very often can lead to tooth loss. Smoking can not only cause Periodontal Disease (bone loss around the tooth) in the person who actively chooses to smoke, but also in the innocent bystander via secondhand smoke. When I have asked my patients why they smoke, I am shocked to hear they do it so they can get a break at work, there is nothing else to do to keep them awake, or they only do it when they drink. These patients may not know that using tobacco products not only reduces the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to gum tissue, but also impairs the body's defense mechanisms. They are not only causing harm to themselves, but also to those that are nonsmokers. Nonsmokers have a 1.5 times greater risk of Periodontal Disease if they have been exposed to environmental tobacco smoke in the home or in the work place. Many smokers may not know that once they quit smoking the harmful effects of tobacco use on the periodontium will gradually decrease, unless permanent damage has already been done. The likelihood of Periodontal Disease was not significantly different from those who had never smoked, 11 years after they had quit. Many patients can maintain the state of their Periodontal Disease when they quit smoking and have meticulous home care, consisting of twice a day brushing, flossing daily and frequent visits to their dentist. There are many different smoking cessation programs and medications to help quit smoking. There is the patch, nicotine gum, nicotine inhalers, a medication that blocks the uptake of nicotine, and a medication that makes the cigarette not taste very good. These may not only help the smoker quit smoking, but they could also help them decrease their risk of heart disease, poorly controlled diabetes, respiratory disease, and premature babies. Periodontal Disease is linked not only to a smoker's mouth, but to their whole body. It is important to talk to a physician about the health risks smoking can pose and different ways a smoker can quit. In addition, the Health and Wellness center located here on base has a number of programs and information for those who want to quit. To contact the HAWC, call 723-2991. To contact the North Dakota Quit line, call 1-866-388-7848 or the American Cancer Society Telephone Quit line at 1-800-ACS-2345. One can also logon to the American Lung Association at www.lungusa.org.