Quit smoking to heal that gum disease and live longer!

According to a new study, smokers are at least 6 times more likely to develop gum disease than non-smokers.

The good news is however, that breaking the habit can prevent them from losing their teeth prematurely.

In a study scientists at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in England have shown that chronic gum disease in smokers significantly improves after they quit.

Dr Philip Preshaw, a specialist in gum disease, says that smokers are more prone to chronic gum disease than non-smokers, because the habit has a detrimental effect on the body's immune system, and people should stop smoking now if they want to increase their chances of keeping their teeth into old age.

Smokers bodies are apparently less well equipped to fight the build up of bacteria in plaque that accumulates on the teeth.

This bacteria causes the gums to become inflamed, recede and bleed, and in severe cases of periodontal disease, the gums recede and the bone that holds the teeth in place gradually erodes, so the teeth either fall out or need to be extracted.

Preshaw says dentists have always recognized that smokers have worse oral and gum health than non-smokers, but this is the first time it has been shown that quitting smoking, together with routine gum treatment results in healthier gums.

The researchers looked at 49 smokers with chronic gum disease over a period of a year, and they noticed a significant improvement in the disease in the one fifth of smokers who quit, compared to those who did not.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 15 million people in the United States alone, suffer from gum disease, and the risk of developing the illness increases with the number of cigarettes smoked daily.

It must also be remembered that in addition to increasing the odds of suffering from chronic gum disease, smoking is also the leading cause of lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses and a risk factor for heart disease.

Research has also shown that smokers die, on average, 10 years earlier than non-smokers.

The report is published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology.