Tobacco, snuff and oral health
Heikkinen, A.M.; Meurman, J.H.; Sorsa, T.
Duodecim; Laaketieteellinen Aikakauskirja 131(21): 1975-1980
2015
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-7183 PMID: 26677547 Document Number: 678979
Smoking is estimated to cause 6.3 million deaths annually worldwide. The use of snuff, differing from smoking, has significantly increased especially among the adolescents. Snuff powder contains 20-fold more nicotine compared to cigarettes, leading to strong nicotine addiction. In addition to cancer development, both smoking and snuff use exert other risks for oral health. Compared with non-smokers, smokers are at a 10-fold risk for the development and progression of periodontal diseases. Snuff causes oral mucosal changes, gingival recessions and root surface caries. Smoking induces systemic low-grade inflammation, which weakens defensive immune responses in oral mucosa, gingiva, gingival crevicular fluid and saliva.