Your dentist keeps asking about smoking. You are a smoker and you wonder — does it really affect my gums that much? The honest answer is yes, and the impact is significant. Smoking is one of the most powerful risk factors for gum disease, and many smokers do not realise how much damage is happening silently beneath the surface.

Gum disease starts with plaque buildup along the gumline. Your immune system normally fights this off. But smoking weakens that response. It reduces blood flow to your gums, starves them of oxygen, and impairs the healing process. The result? Plaque has a far easier time taking hold.

Studies consistently show that smokers are two to three times more likely to develop gum disease than non-smokers. And if that was not enough, smoking also makes gum disease harder to treat. The gums heal more slowly after dental cleanings and periodontal treatments. In severe cases, surgery is less effective in smokers.

Perhaps most worrying is that smoking masks the early warning signs. You might not see the redness and bleeding that non-smokers get, because smoking reduces bleeding as well. This means damage can progress undetected.

Gum disease does not just affect your mouth. It is linked to heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory problems. When you smoke and have gum disease, you are compounding these risks.

The good news is that quitting helps — at any age. Research shows that former smokers' gum disease risk starts to decline after they quit. After five to ten years, their risk approaches that of non-smokers.

If you smoke, be honest with your dentist about it. We understand it can be difficult to discuss, but it helps us look after you properly. We can monitor your gum health more closely and recommend more frequent hygiene appointments if needed.

Quitting is the single best thing you can do for your gums. Your dentist or GP can point you towards support services that genuinely help people stop smoking.