You probably already know that smoking is bad for your teeth, but if you’ve got dentures, you may believe you’re in the clear to light up again. After all, dentures aren’t real teeth, so how harmful could smoking really be to them? Well, unfortunately the answer is pretty harmful; in fact, just because your dentures are “false” teeth, doesn’t mean they can’t still be damaged by smoking, vaping, or chewing tobacco.
Here are a few ways smoking can still harm your oral health, even if you wear dentures!
Denture Damage
The first and most obvious problem caused by smoking is the damage it can cause to your dentures. Not only can it stain or discolor your dentures, but it can also cause bad odor or dry them out and alter their fit. When they don’t fit right, it becomes harder to speak and chew, and can even cause painful denture sores.
Gum Dangers
In addition to damaging your dentures, tobacco products can also damage your gums. Not only can smoking burn the gum tissue, but it can also dry out the gums. This can not only harm the dentures themselves, but it can also increase your risk of periodontal disease and change the shape of your gums so that your dentures no longer fit properly.
Bone Degradation
One of the dangers of missing teeth is the risk of bone degradation in your jawbone. This occurs because without the stimulation your jaw should be receiving from using your teeth to chew, the bone begins to deteriorate since it’s no longer needed. This can cause your face to appear sunken and can even require a bone graft or sinus lift to correct. Worse yet, should you ever desire an upgrade to dental implants, you may not be able to get them at all if this damage is too severe to be corrected.
When you smoke, you accelerate the bone degradation process, meaning you may need to have one of these procedures sooner before the problem becomes worse.
Remember, smoking is never a good idea whether you have dentures, dental implants, or a full mouth of healthy teeth. If you are getting dentures, don’t think they are your green light to start smoking again. Quitting can help not only protect your dentures and your oral health, but it can also help save your life.
About Our Practice
The team at Dentistry at Windermere provides high quality care in a calm, comfortable setting. We offer a wide range of oral health services, ranging from general dentistry to cosmetic procedures to dental implants and dentures.
To schedule an appointment for dentures, please visit our website or call us today at 770-205-1212.