Australian Dental Council (ADC) Practice Test 2026 - Free ADC Practice Questions and Study Guide

Tobacco smoking is indeed recognized for its detrimental effects on oral health, including impacts on the immune system and the oral microbiome. One of its significant effects is immunosuppression, which relates to how smoking can diminish the efficiency of the immune response, making the body less capable of combating infections, including periodontal disease.

The characterization of smoking as "caries immuno-suppressive" is an important feature, as it reflects the compromise in immune system function which decreases the body’s ability to fight off dental caries and other oral diseases. Therefore, stating that smoking is not immuno-suppressive is inaccurate; rather, it contributes to an environment that is more conducive to the progression of carious lesions due to an impaired host response.

In terms of the other options, the impacts of smoking can indeed favor the growth of anaerobic bacteria due to changes in the oral environment, smoking affects neutrophil function and chemotactic factors leading to a reduced inflammatory response, and it has adrenergic effects due to the stimulant properties of nicotine. These components underline the multifaceted adverse effects of tobacco on oral health.