Smoking
Smoking is a major risk factor for developing gum disease. People who smoke are four times more likely to have gum disease than non-smokers. The heavier you smoke, the more likely you are to have a more severe case of gum disease. People who continue to smoke while being treated for periodontitis, will have only 50%-75% of the healing response of non-smokers. If you smoke, the most important thing you can do for yourself and your family is to stop. Quitting smoking cannot reverse the past damage done to your teeth, but the disease process slows down significantly and your response to treatment is similar to someone who has never smoked. If you have periodontal disease due to current or past smoking, then you need to consider adding a Waterpik® dental water jet oral irrigator to your daily routine. Studies have shown that people who have been previously treated for periodontal disease who added a Waterpik® dental water jet to their daily routine had greater reductions in bleeding and gingivitis than those who did not.
