• 9/26/2005
  • United Kingdom
  • staff
  • British Dental Journal (2005); 199, 323. doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4812840

Smokers who give up are much less likely to lose their teeth prematurely than those who don’t kick the habit, according to research conducted at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Dental researchers observed a group of cigarette smokers with chronic gum disease over one year and found some symptoms were more likely to improve in the people who quit during the study period.

The researchers’ findings were revealed in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, and the study, The effect of quitting smoking on chronic periodontitis by PM Preshaw et al, followed 49 smokers with chronic gum disease over one year. All were encouraged to stop smoking through counselling and, in some cases, using nicotine replacement therapy and/or medication. All of the patients also received treatment for their gum disease. One-fifth of the patients quit smoking, and in those patients, gum health was significantly improved compared to those who continued to smoke over the 12 months.

Dr Philip Preshaw a clinical lecturer in periodontology with Newcastle University’s School of Dental Sciences, led the research. He said, “Our study shows that people should stop smoking now if they want to increase their chances of keeping their teeth into old age. Dentists have known for some time that smokers have worse oral and gum health than non-smokers but for the first time we have shown that quitting smoking together with routine gum treatment results in healthier gums.”

The Department of Health has promoted the idea of smoking cessation counselling by dentists, and dental students at Newcastle University are now taught how to counsel patients on this issue as part of their degree course.