Premium
The effect of cigarette smoking on gingival blood flow in humans
Author(s) -
Baab David A.,
Öberg P. Åke
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of clinical periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.456
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1600-051X
pISSN - 0303-6979
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-051x.1987.tb01547.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dentistry , cigarette smoking , blood flow
This paper presents the acute effects of cigarette smoking on blood flow to the gingiva in 12 young smokers. Relative gingival blood flow (GBF) was measured by a laser Doppler fiberoptic probe placed 1 mm into the buccal sulcus of tooth no. 26. The probe continuously measured the flux of blood cells (velocity×number of cells) in the gingival crest. Relative skin blood flow (SBF) to the forearm and heart rate were also monitored continously; blood pressure (BP) was assessed at 5‐min intervals. After resting for 5 min, subjects sham smoked an unlighted cigarette for 5 min. then smoked the cigarette, and finally rested for 25 min afterwards. Mean changes from resting for all variables were compared to sham smoking for each 5 min block. Mean GBF rose significantly above sham smoking values during smoking, and remained elevated during the first 5 min after smoking ( p <0.05). Mean SBF decreased slightly during and after smoking, but the changes were not significantly depressed compared to sham smoking ( p >0.05). During smoking, BP and heart rate increased significantly over sham smoking ( p <0.05). GBF increased almost linearily when the probe was placed into the gingival sulcus; this phenomenon did not occur when the probe was placed externally to the gingival crest. The theory that smoking impairs gingival blood flow may not be true in humans.