Exogenous factors in the immunotoxicity of oral PMN.

Current evidence indicates that periodontal disease is frequently due to inappropriate levels of gingival granulocyte functions. Reason of this failure may be the toxic effects of a number of local or systemic exogenous factors, capable of spreading through the gingival crevice environment, and strongly conditioning the granulocyte activities. The wide list includes bacteria and granulotoxic products, hedonistic drugs (mainly tobacco), and chemotherapeutic agents (especially antimicrobials used for preventing or reducing the accumulation of dental plaque). Almost always, their presence induces a time- and/or dose-dependent toxicity.