Nobody is going to be surprised to learn that smoking is bad for your dental health. After all, that carcinogenic smoke enters your body via your mouth, exposing your teeth and gingival tissues to a variety of toxic compounds. However, if you have dentures, you might think that the problem isn't quite so bad. After all, some (or all) of your natural teeth are absent, so it's not like smoking can damage them.
Adverse Effects
Sure, smoking can't damage teeth that are no longer there, but the habit can still have an adverse effect on your mouth, which will ultimately affect the comfort and effectiveness of your dentures. Part of this is due to the fact that unlike natural teeth or dental implants, dentures are not anchored.
Anchoring a Tooth
Whether it's via a tooth's root or an artificial replacement (like a dental implant), teeth are anchored to the alveolar bone, which is part of your jaw. When a tooth is lost and not replaced with an artificial root, the bone around the empty dental socket retracts. This is basically because it no longer has to support the pressure that the tooth experiences each time it bites down on something.
Bone Mass
This loss of bone mass will continue, even with dentures. It means that the contours of your mouth will slowly change, although you may not notice it until the fit of your dentures is no longer as good as it once was. This problem is easy to fix, and the base of your dentures can be relined to better fit your mouth. The trouble is that smoking can speed up this loss of bone mass.
Accelerated Loss
Studies have shown that smoking can contribute to periodontal bone loss. When smoking accelerates this bone loss, your dentures will lose their effectiveness, to the point that any adjustments or relining will begin to have a negligible effect. Quite simply, it can become more difficult for dentures to fit the contours of a mouth with bone loss accelerated by smoking.
Discolouration
In addition to the functionality of your dentures, smoking will also spoil their physical appearance. This is especially true with acrylic dentures, which are porous and can easily be stained by nicotine. This type of discolouration is difficult to reverse, and a new set of dentures might be required.
While quitting smoking is always easier said than done, if you have dentures and are a smoker, you need to think about what's more important—functional dentures that aren't uncomfortable to wear, or your cigarettes.
Share23 July 2021
As a mother, I've seen my kids' faces light up after they've lost a tooth – oh, the excitement they feel about getting their grown up teeth! However, I've also seen my kids become extremely scared and anxious after having an adult tooth knocked out. If you're a mom or a dad with a busy kid, chances are you might see a tooth knocked out in a skateboarding accident or a sport pile-up. This blog is dedicated to those moments when you could lose your wits, and it's here to ensure you don't. I am collecting and curating the best information about kids and dental emergencies here so that you will have it when you need it. Best of luck with your kids' smiles!
