Gingival bleeding on probing increases after quitting smoking

BACKGROUND: Gingival inflammation associated with plaque accumulation is delayed or impaired in smokers. Anecdotal evidence suggests that smokers who quit experience an increase in gingival bleeding. METHOD: A group of 27 subjects on a Quit-smoking programme were examined for changes in gingival health over a 4-6-week period. RESULTS: The bleeding on probing with a constant force probe increased from 16% of sites to 32% of sites, despite improvements in the subjects oral hygiene. CONCLUSION: This provides further evidence that tobacco smoking affects the inflammatory response and that these changes are reversible on quitting.