1. How Smoking Harms Oral Health
Smoking interferes deeply with oral tissues, raising your risk of periodontal disease, tooth loss, and implant failure. Smokers have approximately an 85% higher risk of periodontitis, with significantly worse healing, deeper periodontal pockets, and impaired treatment outcomes. Tobacco use also disrupts the delicate oral microbiome, driving pathogenic imbalances that fuel gum disease and caries. Additionally, smoking dramatically increases the risk of oral cancers and dental implant failure, particularly in heavy smokers.
2. The Perils of Secondhand Smoke, Especially for Children
Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke heightens the risk of dental caries in children, particularly in primary teeth. Studies indicate that maternal smoking may double this risk compared to paternal exposure.
3. It’s Never Too Late to Quit: The Benefits of Cessation
The good news? Quitting smoking reverses many risks. Former smokers show a restored risk of tooth loss comparable to never-smokers. Likewise, periodontitis rates decline and treatment outcomes improve after cessation.
4. Your Dentist Can Help
Dental professionals are pivotal in screening for oral damage from smoking and offering targeted cessation support. Interventions within the dental setting—such as brief advice or tailored counselling—can effectively motivate patients to quit.
References
Popescu, D. M., et al. “The role of smoking in periodontal diseases: Action mechanisms and clinical implications.” Int. J. Appl. Dent. Sci., vol. 11, no. 2, 2025, pp. 278–81.
Senaratne, N. L. M., et al. “Effect of different forms of tobacco on the oral microbiome in healthy adults: a systematic review.” Oral Health Promot., 2024.
Amaral, A. L., et al. “Impacts of smoking on oral health—what is the role of the dental team in smoking cessation?” Evid Based Dent, 2023.
“Effects of tobacco product use on oral health and the role of oral healthcare providers in cessation: A narrative review.” PMC.
“Impacts of tobacco smoke on oral and periodontal tissues.” PMC.