REJUVENATION DENTISTRY

SMOKING

AND
PERIODONTAL DISEASE

Periodontal disease is an infection of the teeth, gums and the
bone that surrounds your teeth. The infection is caused
by bacteria that live in the plaque, the sticky film of
food and bacteria that form constantly on your teeth.
The bacteria infect the tooth roots and cause
pockets of infection to form in the gums.

Staff photo by Angie Bean

Smoking helps cause periodontal disease in two ways:
it reduces the production of saliva, and it damages
the body's ability to fight off infection.

Saliva is necessary for oral health because it helps wash
bacteria from the teeth, so less saliva means more plaque.

Smoking damages your immune system by
causing blood vessels to constrict throughout you
entire body. This constriction reduces the flow
of infection-fighting white blood cells, oxygen
and nutrients to the gums making them
more susceptible to infection.

Besides contributing to the onset of periodontal
disease, continuing to smoke after periodontal
treatment makes it much harder for your gums
to heal. By becoming a nonsmoker you can
strengthen the tight against periodontal
disease and keep your teeth.

O

Making It Positive

A breast cancer survivor pours energy

Birmingham, MI
248.646.0442

into Race for the Cure.

Alan Hitsky
Associate Editor

MIGUN

It's more than a massage.
It's more than an experience. And there
is nothing like it in the entire world.

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(248) 539-8855 (248) 393-0885
6716 Orchard Lake Rd
3855 Baldwin Rd

West Bloomfield

Lake Orion

In the West Bloomfield Plaza
Hours: Sun 10am-1pm • Mon & Tue 11am-7pm • Wed Closed • Thurs 9am-5pm • Fri 11am-6pm • Sat 11am-3pm

30

April 26 • 2007

biopsy, and Jessop underwent radia-
tion therapy.
Four years earlier, her sister Susan,
andy Klein Jessop is going to
of Shaumberg, Ill., wasn't as lucky. A
be 50 this year. And she loves non-smoker, Susan was diagnosed
the idea. "I love every wrinkle with lung cancer and died at the age
I get:' says the energetic Farmington
of 46.
Hills resident.
Shortly after Jessop's treatment
Jessop is a busy wife, mother of
ended, her oldest daughter started
two teenage daughters and director of preparations for her bat mitzvah at
training and coursework development
Temple Kol Ami, West Bloomfield.
for Mastery Technologies in Novi. But
Mother and daughter thought the
four years ago, on what would have
annual Susan G. Komen Race for the
been her sister's 50th birthday, Jessop
Cure fundraiser in Detroit might be a
was diagnosed with breast cancer.
good mitzvah project. That first year,
She considers herself lucky. "If
they volunteered to pack T-shirts, bags
the cancer had been there five years
and information booklets before the
before says Jessop, "I wouldn't have
race.
been diagnosed." Technology has
Involvement has grown each year
improved so much, she says. "The dol- and now includes all the Jessops and
lars are really helping."
Sandy's Support Team, 60 friends,
Her tumor was so small that she
neighbors, fellow workers and mem-
didn't need chemotherapy. Doctors
bers of the medical community who
performed a lumpectomy and a node
helped Jessop defeat her cancer.

S