5 Reasons You Should Quit Smoking When You Get Dentures

Smoking can harm your smile, but what if you’ve lost your natural teeth and are getting dentures to replace them? Since dentures are prosthetic teeth, you may think they shouldn’t be affected in the same way. However, using tobacco products can be just as harmful to your dentures as it is to your natural teeth. Here are 5 reasons you should quit smoking when you get dentures to protect your smile.

#1: Smoking accelerates jawbone loss.

After you lose teeth, your jawbone experiences substantial deterioration, whether you smoke or not. This natural bone loss will gradually affect the shape of your jaw and face and you’ll have to swap your prosthetics for ones that fit better. While dentures will eventually require replacement for any patient, smoking accelerates the process, meaning you will have to replace your prosthetic far more often than if you were a nonsmoker.

#2: Quitting will help you heal faster.

The nicotine in cigarettes restricts blood flow in the mouth and body, so any blood supply to your gums becomes limited. As a result, after your tooth extraction, your gums will take longer to heal, have problems regenerating, or be at risk of infection or dry socket.

#3: Your dentures may become less comfortable.

Tobacco smoke can harden your gums and cause inflammation and soreness throughout your mouth. Although your dentures are customized to be well-fitted, they can become extremely uncomfortable and difficult to wear when the soft tissues in your mouth are sensitive and swollen. Even if you manage to get and keep them on, your ability to speak and eat normally may become limited.

#4: The smell lingers and can cause or worsen denture breath.

Similar to how the smell of smoke can linger on your breath, the smell of smoke can linger on your dentures, even if you clean them! That’s because there are pores along the surface of your restoration, which can trap the odor in place. Even if you regularly clean your false teeth, the only way to get the pleasant, minty-fresh breath you want is by refraining from using tobacco products.

#5: Smoking can stain your dentures.

Your prosthetic teeth are meant to resemble your pearly whites. As such, dentures are usually made from materials like acrylic or porcelain. Although your dentures are somewhat resistant to staining, they can still begin to yellow over time. Smoking significantly increases your risk of denture discoloration.

Stopping a habit of any kind can be a challenge, but for the sake of your smile and dentures, you should quit smoking. If you’re struggling to let cigarettes go, contact your dentist to see if they have any recommendations on how to protect your prosthetics and oral health.

About the Author

Dr. Steven Oshins provides a comprehensive range of dental services to enhance and protect the beautiful smiles of Guilderland. Oshins of Smiles offers lifelike partial, full, and implant dentures to restore your quality of life, happiness, and confidence. If you want to learn more about how smoking can affect your dentures, contact Dr. Oshins at his website or by phone at (518) 356-5635.