Related Experiment Videos
Gingival bleeding on probing increases after quitting smoking
P Nair1, G Sutherland, R M Palmer
1Department of Periodontology and Preventive Dentistry, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Dentistry, Kings College, Guy's Campus, London SE1 9RT, UK.
Background:
Gingival inflammation associated with plaque accumulation is delayed or impaired in smokers. Anecdotal evidence suggests that smokers who quit experience an increase in gingival bleeding.
Method:
A group of 27 subjects on a Quit-smoking programme were examined for changes in gingival health over a 4-6-week period.
Results:
The bleeding on probing with a constant force probe increased from 16% of sites to 32% of sites, despite improvements in the subjects oral hygiene.
Conclusion:
This provides further evidence that tobacco smoking affects the inflammatory response and that these changes are reversible on quitting.