You have all heard it and it’s basically common knowledge… Smoking and tobacco use is not good for your health. That said, you might not have heard about what it can do to your oral health! Today your denturist in Portland OR wants to show you the effects of smoking on your dentures and people with dental implants as well.

Back fifty years ago, people were not so aware of the risks and health issues associated with smoking or the connection between cigarettes and lung cancer.  And over time, we have seen study after study showing consistent findings showing links to mouth cancer, gum disease, and tooth decay. It is also important to note that smoking cigarettes and the use of other tobacco products can actually cause negative effects to where the soft tissue connects the bone to the teeth and impacts the function of the oral cells and tissues.

With the knowledge that tobacco use can drastically damage your denture (or dental implant) experience, it is more important than ever to stop smoking if you can.

Here are just a few things to know:

• Your dental implant failure risk increases if you use tobacco. Many medical professionals will recommend quitting smoking if you’re considering having dental implants.
• If you smoke, you are at greater risk of infection when having dental implants fitted.
• Smoking can damage the success rate of dental surgery.
• Your healing time is extended after surgery for those who smoke. This is because nicotine constricts your arteries and reduces the blood flow to your gums.
• Bone loss that comes with losing your teeth is often accelerated in smokers, which can cause your face to shrink and other harmful side effects.

Risks of Second-Hand Smoke

There are many things that can be harmful to your oral health, and tobacco use is definitely on the list for both adults and children. Second-hand smoke causes more harm than you might realize, for yourself and for those around you! All the more reason to quit smoking.

Second-hand smoking (or passive smoking) is dangerous to everyone, children included, leading to respiratory problems and other health complications. What you might not realize is that it can actually cause the formation of cavities in children’s teeth.

We hope that this information has helped you realize the harmful effects of smoking and has shed some light on how serious these issues can be. You may not always be able to see or feel the damage it does, but it’s there.

To learn more about oral health or have questions about your dentures in Portland OR, don’t hesitate to give us a call.