My boyfriend is a smoker. He has cut back smoking to about two to three cigarettes a day.  Can his continue smoking cause gum disease? He whiten his teeth to keep them from being stained but I am trying to tell him that he still messing up his gums.

Answer:  Tobacco use and smoking is harmful to both your oral health and over all health care. Many studies have been done show links to smoking and gum disease.  According to recent studies they have shown that tobacco use may be one of the most significant risk factors in the development and progression of periodontal disease. In addition, following periodontal treatment or any type of oral surgery, the chemicals in tobacco can slow down the healing process and make the treatment results less predictable.