Periodontitis is a dysbiotic inflammatory disease with an adverse impact on systemic health. Its etiology is multifactorial, and recent studies have provided insights into the role of environmental factors, such as cigarette smoke, in the pathogenesis and progression of periodontitis. This review discusses the effect of cigarette smoke on the interaction of the gingival epithelial cells with a prominent periodontal pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis.