Avoid
The Hookah And Save Your Teeth
[
Submitted by Dr Andreas Siebold on 6 December, 2005 ]
Study
provides convincing evidence that tobacco smoking is a risk factor for
periodontal disease. These findings included water pipe smoking.
Chicago - Smoking a hookah also known
as a water pipe is becoming an increasingly trendy menu item in
Mediterranean restaurants, cafes and bars. People should be warned to
"skip this course" according to a study that appeared in the
November issue of the Journal of Periodontology.
Researchers found that the impact of water pipe smoking is largely the
same magnitude as that of cigarette smoking. The prevalence of
periodontal diseases was 30 percent in water pipe smokers, 24 percent in
cigarette smokers and eight percent in non-smokers.
"Research from this study shows that the relative risk for
periodontal disease increased by 5-fold in water pipe and 3.8-fold in
cigarette smokers compared to non-smokers," said Kenneth A. Krebs,
DMD and AAP president. "Even though the smoke is filtered out by
water, inhalation of toxic substances is similar to or even greater than
that of cigarette smoking."
"Many people are mislead in believing that water filters out the
toxins and that nicotine is reduced in water pipe smoking," Krebs.
"Not only does water pipe smoking include the same substances as
cigarette smoke such as carbon monoxide and tar, tobacco used for water
pipe smoking contains two to four percent nicotine verses one to three
percent for cigarettes."
Researchers found increased levels of nicotine and cotinine in plasma,
saliva and urine, supporting that water pipe smoking affects the
periodontal tissues in the same way as cigarette smoking. "This
study provides convincing evidence supporting the role of tobacco
smoking as a risk factor for periodontal disease," said Krebs.
"Although the precise mechanisms of action of tobacco smoke are not
well understood, it seems highly likely that the periodontal bone is one
of the most susceptible tissues," said Krebs. "This hypothesis
will be further tested by investigating the periodontal bone height
levels of various tobacco smokers in the presently studied
population."
The American Academy of Periodontology is an 8,000-member association of
dental professionals specializing in the prevention, diagnosis and
treatment of diseases affecting the gums and supporting structures of
the teeth and in the placement and maintenance of dental implants.
Periodontics is one of nine dental specialties recognized by the
American Dental Association.
Link to AAP Website
