Dentures are a fantastic way to give someone back their smile after extensive tooth loss. However, it’s important to remember that you still need to take care of your mouth even if you don’t have any real teeth left. Unfortunately, smoking is a common habit that can cause lasting damage to a person’s oral health, and continuing to smoke while wearing dentures can hurt your gums and ruin the fit of your prosthetic appliance. Here’s more information about why you should quit smoking after receiving dentures.
Dentures Depend on the Gums
Dentures are designed to fit over the gums where the teeth used to be. Each set is customized to conform to the gums of the individual patient. However, the mouth will develop and change shape over time, so the dentures will require periodic adjustments to keep fitting properly. If dentures do not fit properly, they can cause difficulty with chewing and speaking and injuries to the soft tissues in the mouth. They can also make it easier for oral infections to set in by catching food particles between them and the gums.
What Happens to the Gums When You Smoke?
When you inhale tobacco smoke, your mouth undergoes a few physiological changes to protect itself. For instance, your gums harden to protect themselves from the smoke. The nicotine in this smoke causes the blood vessels in the mouth and body to constrict, which makes it harder for the gums to receive a healthy flow of blood and more difficult for them to heal and fight infections. If you smoke frequently, this frequent hardening can cause your gums to recede, which can cause problems with the way your dentures fit. Smoking also accelerates bone loss, which can affect the health of your jaw.
Is Smoking Bad for My Dentures?
In addition to harming your gum tissues, smoking can leave both natural and artificial teeth with unsightly yellow or brown stains. It can certainly be distressing to go through all the effort of getting a quality dental prosthesis only for it to become discolored by a bad habit.
Getting dentures can be a positive step for your oral health, so why not follow it up with another? If you’re planning on getting dentures, it’s a great time to quit smoking. Your gums will begin to regenerate soon after you quit, and numerous other health benefits will follow shortly afterward.
About the Practice
Salt Run Family Dentistry makes dental care a relaxing and pleasant experience for families in St. Augustine, FL. Led by Drs. Mickey Leth and Bert Tavary, the staff delivers personalized high-quality oral health services with dedication to their work and compassion for their patients. Areas of expertise include general, pediatric, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. For more information on how smoking hurts denture patients, contact the office online or dial (904) 824-3540.