Smoking can stain your teeth and cause bad breath, but smoking is also attributed to the progression of advanced gum disease called periodontitis.  In the late stages of this disease, the connective tissue that holds your teeth in place is destroyed, thus resulting in the mobility of teeth and possible tooth loss.  Each time a tooth is lost, surrounding bone in the area is also lost.  Smoking can also affect the treatment options for patients.  A smoker’s mouth doesn’t heal the same as a non-smoker’s, so treatment options for missing teeth can be limited.  Diligent homecare and professional dental visits are important to help to avoid periodontitis, but a healthy lifestyle is quite crucial as well.