We know that smoking can do a number on your teeth - but it also puts your gums at risk - as if the rotting teeth weren't bad enough. It turns out that smokers are five times more likely to develop gum or periodontal disease than non-smokers. Excessive bacteria along the gum line due to poor oral hygiene is typically a part of the cause. A smoker will know if they have gum disease if their gums look red instead of pink, or are inflamed, tender, and bleed easily during or after brushing. Other symptoms can include loose teeth, a change in the bite, a potent case of bad breath, and pus oozing from the gum line. Constriction of the blood vessels from smoking results in decreased oxygen and nutrient distribution, which subsequently causes gingival inflammation. And that's just from cigarettes and cigars. A study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association showed that chewing tobacco users were four times more likely than non-users to develop tooth decay. Chewing and dipping tobacco - packs the tobacco right against the gums, causing more direct damage. The sand and grit in smokeless tobacco wears down the gums, while the flavor-boosting sugars mixes with bacteria in the mouth increasing the risk of tooth decay. Another downside of chewing tobacco is a loss of the sense of taste. Smokeless tobacco is loaded with more than 2,000 chemicals, 28 of which have been linked to cancer - such as nitrosamines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and radiation-emitting polonium. As you already must know oral cancer is also connected with smoking and chewing tobacco. Keep an eye out for early signs such as white lumps or patches where you keep your chew, white patches on the side of your tongue, sores that aren't healing, restricted tongue or jaw movement, or a feeling as if something's stuck in your throat, as all tobaccos can also cause cancer of the pharynx, larynx and esophagus. Prevention is simple: put down that cigarette, cigar, and tobacco. For more ways to keep your tongue and gums healthy, check out other videos in this series.