Effect of Cigarette Smoking on the Circulation of the Oral Mucosa

Abstract

Much research has been done on cigarette smoking and its relation to systemic and local pathologic conditions of the human body.^1-13 No one has studied the effect of cigarette smoking on blood circulation of the oral mucosa, however. If significant changes occur in the oral circulatory system, they may have undesirable effects on systemic and local pathologic conditions. The purpose of this project was to determine whether smoking without inhaling has an effect of the blood circulation of the oral mucosa that is not mediated through the sympathetic nervous svstem.