Gum Disease and Smoking

For healthy teeth and gums, avoid tobacco. In addition to the general health risks posed by tobacco, smokers have seven times the risk for developing gum disease compared with non-smokers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. No matter the form of tobacco -- whether a cigarette, pipe or smokeless tobacco -- it increases the risk for gum disease, oral and throat cancers, and oral fungal infection. Chewing tobacco that contains sugar increases the risk for tooth decay.