How can i prevent gum disease if i smoke? ive heard that smokers get gum disease more than other people. i cant seem to quit smoking, so id like to know how to prevent gum disease. should i brush more often. is there a mouthwash that will help?

There : There is no absolute preventative thing you can do to counteract smoking which puts a large plaque film on the teeth especially under the gum line. So quitting smoking is the key. However, if you can't stop-- make sure you brush and floss properly daily and get a professional cleaning every three to four months.

Smoking...: You are correct about smokers having a higher prevalence rate of gum disease than non smokers. My suggestion: do anything that can help you quit smoking. It will not only save your teeth ( with professional care) but also save your life. There isn't any magic rinse . You can practice excellent oral hygiene and be followed by a qualified dentist or periodontist to keep you out of big trouble.

Great oral hygiene: Smokers can have 4x as much gum disease as those who do not smoke. Smoking is a large contributing factor to gum disease, but so is bacterial plaque. Meticulous oral hygiene will help decrease the amount of plaque and bacteria in your mouth and may help to slow or prevent gum disease. Mouth washes can be a nice adjunct to brushing and flossing, but it does not take the place of either.

Floss!: Most people won't floss and so the gum disease starts between the teeth. Of course brushing is important as well, but if you are a diligent flosser, and use a mouthrinse to help, that is the best we can hope for.

Good oral hygiene: Good oral hygiene plays a great role in prevention, treatment, and maintenance of your periodontal health. Smoking is only a risk factor in term of regeneration of loss bone due to gum disease, but not a risk factor in acquiring gum disease. Nicotine constricted blood vessel which impaired wound healing. It causes root surface roughness and attracted plaque buildup which needs to be cleaned.