Gum disease is an infection in the mouth that affects the gums and tissue around your teeth caused by plaque. Smoking and vaping increase the levels of plaque in the mouth, plaque calcium concentration, inflammation, and more. According to the  CDC , “1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women 30 years or older had some level of periodontitis,” while  smokers  have “twice the risk for gum disease compared with a nonsmoker.” 

It’s not all doom and gloom for those planning on quitting soon. While one study in South Korea found “long-term smoking was closely related to poor periodontal health,” they also discovered a relatively short period of smoking cessation, less than five years, had a positive impact on periodontal disease.” Essentially, if your dental health took a turn for the worse while vaping, it can recover in less than five years after you stop. 

According to the  National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research , approximately 11.5% will be affected by mouth (or oral) cancer. Smoking or vaping can increase the chance of getting mouth cancer by exposing the mouth directly to carcinogenic chemicals. 

The most common type of mouth cancer is oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). One  study into OSCC  looked into this form of mouth cancer, and the findings were clear: Tobacco is a major risk factor for mouth cancer. 

Smoker’s keratosis, or  nicotina stomatitis , presents as white patches on the roof of the mouth or a reddened area with a white, thickened appearance. While it isn’t usually painful for somebody suffering from it, it can be precancerous. Smoker’s keratosis occurs after sustained exposure to extreme heat in the mouth, which is often associated with smoking or vaping. 

If recovery after tooth removal doesn’t go to plan, you may develop a condition known as dry socket. This is the failure to form a blood clot or a blood clot dislodged after tooth extraction, which can lead to intense pain afterward. Smoking and vaping can increase the time that the mouth takes to recover after tooth removal by constricting blood vessels and reducing blood flow to the mouth - this slows down the healing process in the mouth. The dentistry journal found that “approximately 13.2% of cigarette smokers developed a dry socket after tooth extraction,” according to  one study . 

Most people will suffer from cavities or some form of tooth decay (or untreated caries) in their lifetime. Unfortunately for smokers who are wondering, does smoking cause cavities? Several  studies  suggest that “both vaping and dual smoking are associated with an increased occurrence of untreated caries.” This increased occurrence is due to smoking increasing the amount of plaque and bacteria in the mouth. Over time, this build-up will lead to tooth decay and cavities. 

In the same way that smoking and vaping can inhibit recovery after tooth removal, these habits also lead to poor healing after mouth and gum surgery by reducing blood flow to the mouth. Frontiers in Physiology’s  study into wound healing problems  states, “smoking has severe negative effects on all phases of wound healing,” and the longer you can give up before surgery, the better: “Quitting smoking four weeks before surgery has positive effects on the inflammatory phase, but the proliferation phase remains disturbed.” 

Smoking and vaping alter the flow of blood to the mouth and damage taste buds in the mouth, which can lead to a decreased taste in the mouth. One  study  on the subject found that “tongue tip bitter and salt tastes were perceived as less intense in current smokers with greater cigarette exposure compared to never smokers, particularly in younger smokers, suggesting that smoking may systematically alter tongue tip taste function.” Basically, chefs who smoke  tend to oversalt  their food when cooking when compared to non-smokers.

Bad breath, or halitosis, isn’t just a smoking issue, but it’s more avoidable if you don’t smoke or vape. Both cause conditions in the mouth that lead to halitosis like gum disease and dry mouth. A  literature review and meta-analysis study into the influence of tobacco smoking  on the development of halitosis found that “current smokers are more likely to suffer from halitosis, even if they are less likely to report it.” 

Another issue is that smoking and vaping also affects somebody’s sense of smell, so they may not even realize if the bad breath stepped up a notch. 

Smoker’s teeth are defined by the staining of the teeth, which can be yellow or even brown over time. Staining is often associated with tooth decay over a long enough time horizon, which can eventually lead to teeth falling out. While brushing your teeth several times a day can slow down the rate of staining, quitting smoking or vaping is a better route to a whiter smile. In fact, a  systematic review with meta-analysis into the effect of smoking cessation on tooth loss found that “risk for tooth loss in former smokers is comparable to that of never smokers. Moreover, former smokers have a reduced risk of tooth loss, when compared to current smokers,” which should be even more incentive to quit. 

Smoker’s tongue is tongue discoloration, loss of taste, and bad breath caused by vaping or smoking. This condition can be a precancerous sign; one  study  found that “tobacco smoking is a major risk factor for the occurrence of cytological atypia, which might subsequently develop into oral precancerous and cancerous lesions.” 

Smoker’s mouth is a catch-all phrase for a number of oral health problems that can occur in smokers or vapers, ranging from smoker's melanosis (darkening or oral tissue) to  smoker’s palate  and smoker’s lines (wrinkles around the mouth). 

Smoking and vaping significantly increase the chance of suffering from gum disease, which can ultimately lead to tooth decay and loss. There are a number of signs that you may be suffering from gum disease, including gums being red, swollen, tender or bleeding easily. 

If it hurts when you chew, it might be time to give up the vape. This could be a sign of tooth decay and gum disease.

Loose teeth are often a symptom of gum disease. When teeth and gums are broken down by periodontitis, teeth loosen and eventually fall out. 

Another symptom of gum disease is gums that pull away from teeth. This can be painful and lead to sensitivity when eating or drinking. 

Smoking can stain teeth due to the nicotine and tar in tobacco. According to a literature study by Clinical and Experimental Dental Research , “18 studies showed that tobacco exposure caused staining of dental hard tissues.” 

Smoking can lead to bad breath (halitosis). One  study on the development of halitosis found that “current smokers are more likely to suffer from halitosis.” 

Smoking can slow healing after tooth removal, mouth and gum surgery, and periodontal treatment by restricting blood flow to the mouth. “Smoking has severe negative effects on all phases of wound healing,” according to one study . 

Smoking can increase the chance of developing oral cancer. Smoking and vaping can increase the chance of getting mouth cancer by exposing the mouth directly to carcinogenic chemicals.

Smoking can decrease your sense of taste. A study by Tobacco Induced Diseases found “smokers exhibited significantly lower taste sensitivity than non-smokers - the higher the nicotine dependence (Fagerström scores), the lower the taste sensitivity.” If you are curious about your level of nicotine dependence, take the Jones quiz to find out. 

Smoking can increase the risk of leukoplakia. These white patches in the mouth can be precancerous, so should be monitored. One study of smokers in a particular region  found an “association between oral leukoplakia and tobacco product consumption among the population of Chengalpattu district.” 

Smoker’s palate is caused by heat and irritants, often associated with smoking. Those suffering from a smoker's palate will be pleased to know that  findings suggest lesions will disappear within weeks of quitting. 

Smoking is associated with periodontal disease, known commonly as gum disease. This is because smoking leads to a build-up of plaque in the mouth and constricts blood flow to the mouth, which can affect healing. The more you smoke, the more you are likely to develop gingivitis, which is the earliest stage of gum disease. Smoking “exerts a strong, chronic, and dose-dependent suppressive effect on gingival bleeding on probing,” according to one  study . If you don’t get a handle on your oral health, this can develop into periodontitis. This is full-blown gum disease with symptoms that range from swollen gums to loose teeth and a change in how your teeth line up. Smokers and vapers are also more likely to develop  acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis , a very painful condition that comes along with a terrible taste and smell. 

People who quit smoking or vaping will notice their gums begin to heal over time as the body’s circulation improves and the mouth is no longer exposed to large amounts of chemicals. Eventually, people who quit smoking will reduce the risk of developing gum disease to the same levels as non-smokers. The longer you have been a non-smoker, the better. One  study  found that “those who had quit smoking for ≥11 years had the same odds of having periodontitis as non‐smokers.” 

It’s not just your gums that will heal if you quit smoking. Gum health is linked to gut health, known as the gum-gut axis , so getting your dental health on track will help your gut bounce back, too. No longer will it be exposed to nasties from inflammation in the mouth.

If you don’t like what you’ve been reading and want to take the next step towards quitting or reducing, double your chances of quitting and staying quit with Jones. Combine FDA-approved NRT mints designed to curb your nicotine cravings and reduce your dependency over time with science-back support in the free Jones app, with a science-backed free app with quitting support, for the most effective way to quit. 

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) provides low doses of nicotine to your bloodstream without other harmful chemicals, high temperatures, smoke, or vapor entering your mouth or lungs. While NRT is a great way to curb nicotine addiction (it has low additive potential due to its slow release nature) and change habits, some users have reported minor oral health issues that, according to  one study , include “gastric irritation resulting in tooth wear, mouth irritation, soreness, and dryness.” Despite these rare symptoms, NRT (like Jones mints) does not cause cancer and is safe for long-term use per the CDC. NRT is clinically proven to more than double quit rates and is the first line of treatment recommended by the medical community at large. Learn more about NRT here to determine if it's right for you.