If you smoke, you may be putting your gums and mouth at a higher risk of having early gum disease (gingivitis). That’s because when you smoke, the infection fighters in your body take a hit and your immune systems weakens. This means you have to work harder to fend off gum disease. And there’s good incentive to do so—smoking can also discolour your teeth and puts you at increased risk for white patches in the mouth that are referred to as leukoplakia. If you smoke, follow these steps and tips to help keep your mouth clean.
