title: Gingival bleeding on probing increases after quitting smoking.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This provides further evidence that tobacco smoking affects the inflammatory response and that these changes are reversible on quitting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology and Preventive Dentistry, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Dentistry, Kings College, Guy's Campus, London SE1 9RT, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sutherland
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000150:complications; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000503:physiopathology; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology; D016540:Smoking Cessation