doubled from age eighteen to twenty-six , and the dental visits of these smokers decreased during that time . Also , the plaque levels ( plaque is the typically soft white buildup of debris on teeth that leads to gingivitis and cavities ) were higher in the 610 individuals who smoke compared to the 293 who did not . The overall outcome of this study showed that cannabis increases the risk for periodontal and other oral health diseases ( pp . 525 – 531 ).