Another reason to stop that nasty habit....root canals are painful and super expensive...

Among current smokers, those who had smoked for more than 12 years were most likely to have a root canal. Current smokers who had smoked for fewer years had a lower risk, but they were still more likely than nonsmokers to have root canals.
# Smoking makes it harder to fend off infections.
# Smoking increases inflammation.
# Smoking damages the circulation system and lowers oxygen levels.

"Dentists can provide the nicotine patch and other types of cessation products, and they can refer them to smoking cessation clinics and programs," she says. "I think it should be a part of every dentist's program."

Quoted: New research shows that smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to get root canals.

This is a great article about dentistry and the things you can learn about your health by seeing your dentist.... I was super excited about finding an article about dentistry on WebMD...and its a great one...read up and open wide :)

Quote: The eyes may be the window to your soul, but for a look into your physical health, open wide: Your teeth and gums say a mouthful.

Receding or inflamed gums, cavities, tooth loss, gingivitis, and other dental dilemmas in adults can indicate the presence of serious health problems -- including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, vitamin deficiencies, and even the risk of having a premature or low-birth-weight baby. Usually, these dental problems result from poor dental hygiene such as not brushing well or not flossing regularly. But even by following your dentist's golden rule, you may still be hurting your overall health.

I though this was super interesting:

"Actually, there are four times in a female's life when she's more vulnerable to oral problems," says Cram. "Besides menopause, during puberty, during pregnancy, and around the time of her monthly period, certain hormones levels are elevated that stimulate inflammatory mediators that make them more susceptible and responsive to bacteria in the mouth." So mark your calendar, ladies: It's during these times when a dental exam is especially useful.

But even if you're feeling perfectly fine, there's good reason for opening wide and staring at the ceiling as your mouth is picked and probed. "Today, more dentists aren't just looking at teeth and gums," says Cram. "They're giving you a good medical exam."