Second-hand smoke linked to periodontal disease

You’ve explained to your loved ones that smoking is bad for their health, yet their habit persists. If you’re living with a smoker who won’t quit, new research indicates that your oral health may be at risk. Your Jacksonville FL dentist urges you to avoid second-hand smoke to protect your teeth and gums.

Periodontitis affects approximately 47% of adults in the United States and the U.S. Surgeon General has concluded that cigarette smoking is one of its causes. In a new study, the association between periodontitis and “second-hand smoke” in non-smokers is made certain for the first time. Researchers aimed to investigate the association between serum cotinine and periodontitis among U.S. non-smokers and found levels much higher in those non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke.

To learn more about how second-hand smoke can damage your oral health, contact the team at Smiles by Shields today.

Reference:
International & American Associations for Dental Research. (2015, March 13). Environmental tobacco smoke is associated with periodontitis in US non-smokers. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 13, 2015 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150313083627.htm