Virtually everyone knows that smoking is bad for teeth. But what if all of your natural teeth have been removed, and you are going to start wearing dentures instead? Does that mean you can continue to smoke without worrying about how it might affect your smile? No, it does not. In fact, there are some big reasons why you should quit smoking when you get dentures.
Protect Your Gum Health
Smoking can reduce the effectiveness of your immune system, so your body will have a reduced ability to fight off dangerous gum infections. An infection in your gums could cause them to become painful and inflamed, making it difficult or even impossible to wear your dentures. Plus, your dentist might not even allow you to get dentures in the first place if your gums are not relatively healthy.
Preserve the Fit of Your Dentures
In most cases, dentures fit well for 5 – 7 years before they need to be replaced. Throughout that time, they may need to be relined (adjusted) a few times so they can continue to provide a snug and functional fit. The relines are necessary as the jawbone gradually changes shape.
Sadly, smoking can accelerate bone loss in the jaw, causing it to shrink. This may mean that your dentures lose their secure fit sooner than you anticipated. You might even have to pay to replace them earlier than originally planned.
Prevent Bad Breath and Stains
Most dentures are made of materials that have tiny pores. When you light up a cigarette, the smoke can seep into those pores and cause your dentures to collect unpleasant tastes and odors. While you might not notice it too much because you are used to how cigarette smoke smells, the people around you are likely to detect that you have bad breath.
Smoking can also cause your dentures to take on an unattractive yellow color, which could make you look older than you really are.
Reduce Your Risk of Oral Cancer
Regardless of whether you wear dentures or still have some natural teeth, smoking is a huge risk factor for oral cancer. If you develop a cancerous growth, you may need to stop wearing your dentures. In a worst-case scenario, oral cancer can even become fatal.
Dentures can improve your smile and enhance your oral function, but they do not mix well with smoking! If you are struggling to kick the habit, talk to your dentist or primary care practitioner to get assistance.
Meet the Practice
At Family Dental Practice of Newington, we have a large team of general dentists and specialists, all of whom want to see our patients thrive. If you have questions about how to take care of dentures, or you would like to learn more about how smoking may affect your oral health, we would be pleased to speak with you. Get in touch with our office at 860-856-6201.