14 DAY TRIAL // New studies show that smoking can lead, besides teeth coloring and gum disease, to undergoing a root canal procedure, which helps heal a diseased tooth.
The study, which started in the late 1960s and early 1970s, covered about 811 men, during a period of 30 years; every 3 years, the men in the study had their teeth examined for changes. Researchers found that for those who smoke from 5 to 12 years, the risk for a root canal doubled, in comparison to non-smokers.
Elizabeth Krall Kaye, leader of these studies, says: "The findings substantiate what most of us already know: Smoking is detrimental to your health. But because root canal treatment is so common-- it's estimated that half of US adults have experienced one by age 50--I think people can relate to it more than lung cancer and other smoking-induced conditions.
No matter what your age, you may need a root canal and as our research shows, smoking increases your risk. We found that cigarette smokers are 70-percent more likely to need root canal treatment than nonsmokers."
Still, there are some positive aspects to this study, namely that after quitting smoking for nine years, the risk for this dental procedure became the same as for non-smokers. Also, smoking cigars and pipe tobacco carries a smaller risk then smoking normal cigarettes.
The study may also apply to women, but as Kaye says, "Perhaps it might be harder to detect, because at least historically, women haven't smoked as long or as much per day as men have, but I think the risk would still be there. "