If you smoke, you may be putting your gums and mouth at a higher risk of infection. Smokers’ risk of gum disease is twice that of non-smokers. 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 discolor 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 keep your mouth clean
