Dentures can be an incredible way to restore a smile after extensive tooth loss because they are lifelike enough to go completely unnoticed and fit so comfortably that you might forget that they are there. However, their fit depends in no small part on the health of the gums supporting them and the rest of the tissues in the mouth. Here’s why you should quit smoking if you’re wearing dentures.
How Smoking Affects the Way Your Dentures Fit
Tobacco use can lead to discoloration, gum disease, and oral cancers. When you inhale smoke, your gums harden to protect themselves. If they have to do this frequently due to constant smoking, they can start to recede. The gums shrinking and changing shape can cause problems with the way your dentures fit. Poorly fitting dentures can cause problems with speaking and eating because they frequently slip out of place while also causing injury and risking infection to the surrounding tissues. After you quit smoking, your gums will begin to regenerate, allowing the dentures to fit more easily once again.
How Smoking Affects the Health of the Gums
Healthy gums are crucial to wearing dentures, and smoking is detrimental to the health of the gums whether you have real teeth or not. Nicotine has the effect of restricting blood flow in both the mouth and the rest of the body. When the gums have a more limited blood supply, it takes more time for them to heal and fight infections. This makes it harder for them to stay healthy enough to support dentures.
How Smoking Sabotages Implant-Supported Dentures
Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of dental implant failure. A successful implant depends on the gums being healthy enough to fully heal and the jawbone fusing completely with the titanium post implanted in it. Smoking interferes with the healing process by causing the gums to harden and restricting blood flow while also weakening the jawbone by contributing to bone loss. Having your dentures supported by implants can be a great way to regain much of the biting and chewing power of real teeth, but smoking can set all this restorative work up for failure.
To make matters even worse, tobacco smoke can stain artificial teeth just like real ones, so the habit can put a massive blemish on your beautiful new smile. Dropping the habit for good brings a multitude of benefits for your smile and the rest of your body, setting you up for a healthier future.
About the Author
Dr. Robert C. Fromuth earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before completing a General Practice Residency at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Pennsylvania. He is a proud member of the American Dental Association, the Manchester Dental Society, and the New Hampshire Dental Association. His practice in Manchester, NH offers preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry such as denture treatments in addition to dental implants. For more information on how smoking is bad for dentures, contact his office online or dial (603) 644-3368.