In the Mouth, Smoking Zaps Healthy Bacteria

Ohio State University
Feb 15,2012
According to a new study, smoking causes the body to turn against its own helpful bacteria,
leaving smokers more vulnerable to disease.

Despite the daily disturbance of brushing and flossing, the mouth of a healthy person contains a
stable ecosystem of healthy bacteria. New research shows that the mouth of a smoker is a much more
chaotic, diverse ecosystem and is much more susceptible to invasion by harmful bacteria.

As a group, smokers suffer from higher rates of oral diseases -- especially gum disease -- than do
nonsmokers, which is a challenge for dentists, according to Purnima Kumar, assistant professor of
periodontology at Ohio State University. She and her colleagues are involved in a multi-study
investigation of the role the body’s microbial communities play in preventing oral disease.

The smoker’s mouth kicks out the good bacteria, and the pathogens are called in, said Kumar.
So they’re allowed to proliferate much more quickly than they would in a non-smoking environment....
More........http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/585829

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