Are you a smoker struggling to quit the habit? Overcoming nicotine addiction can be challenging, especially for long-time smokers. However, if you’re wearing dentures or considering them, you might discover a fresh set of motivations to embark on the path to quitting.
Dentures and smoking don’t mix. If you’re looking for reasons to quit, continue reading. Below are several benefits you can gain just by stopping your smoking habit
Improved Hygiene
It’s no secret that cigarette smoke can cause several issues in your mouth. Not only do the chemicals stain your teeth, they can also leach into your gum tissue.
This can result in hardened gums that make it more difficult to place your dentures, gum disease, and halitosis. If you stop smoking, your oral hygiene can slowly be set right by diligent brushing and flossing.
Faster Healing
There are approximately 7,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke. 250 of these are dangerous to your health, and at least 69 of them are known to cause cancer. Within this dangerous cocktail of chemicals there are a handful that inhibit the healing processes of your body.
If you wanted to have implant dentures, your dentist would need you to stop smoking first. The process of dental implants requires opening your gum tissue to place titanium posts in your jawbone. With limited healing, your gums and jaw wouldn’t recover from the process properly.
Better Bone Density
Speaking of bones, smoking has a dramatic effect on their strength and density. Nicotine reduces the blood supply to the bones and to many other body tissues.
It can also slow the production of bone-making cells called osteoblasts and decrease your body’s ability to absorb calcium.
If you want to wear your dentures, you need a healthy jawbone. Over time, your jaw begins to recede since there are no teeth to stimulate its growth. This can make it very difficult to wear your denture properly, resulting in slipping and discomfort from an improper fit.
Improved Comfort
Cigarette smoke has other side effects as well. Dry mouth and inflamed gums are common occurrences in the mouths of smokers, leading to discomfort while wearing dentures.
Dentures sit on your gums. As the tissue becomes irritated or dry, biting down can become uncomfortable, if not painful.
Quitting smoking will restore your mouth’s ability to produce saliva for lubrication and reduce the inflammation in your gums over time, leading to increased comfort.
Quitting the habit of smoking can seem like an almost insurmountable task. If you’re considering cutting back or quitting entirely, there are resources available online to help you. Know that you are not alone on the journey and that when you finally kick the habit, your smile with dentures will return brighter and be more comfortable than ever.
About the Practice
Atrium Family Dental of New Lenox is dedicated to providing top-quality dental care in a relaxed and patient-centered environment. The practice offers a wide range of dental services to address the unique needs of each patient. With a focus on oral health and aesthetics, they strive to exceed expectations and ensure their patients leave with confident smiles. To schedule a denture consultation, call (815) 462-9990 or visit the website to look through their catalog of services.