Smoking And Oral Health

Smokers have a considerably greater implant failure rate than nonsmokers, with some studies indicating that it is twice as high.

Smokers who get implants are considerably more likely to get a bacterial infection.

Smoking reduces the success rate of bone grafts, which are occasionally necessary for a patient to obtain dental implants.

Smokers have a substantially higher incidence of peri-implantitis after implant placement.

Nicotine (found in cigarette smoke) inhibits blood flow to soft tissues, making it more difficult for the mouth to recover correctly.

Smoking in the mouth harms the salivary glands, raises the risk of gum disease (which leads to tooth loss), and accelerates bone loss in the jaw.

What is the effect of smoking on dental implants?

Smoking is one of the leading causes of tooth loss and may have led to your need for dental implants. Unfortunately, it also severely limits healing. Nicotine in cigarette smoke constricts blood vessels, reducing blood flow and oxygen to soft tissues, impairing immunological response. This inhibits the healing process and affects the long-term health of the gums and bones. In addition, smoking inhibits osseointegration and increases the likelihood that implants will not heal properly after placement, making them more likely to fail over time.

The smoke you inhale has the potential to burn the tissues in your mouth. This thickens skin cells over time, resulting in keratoses (scaly patches of skin) that can injure or clog salivary glands. Saliva is required to wipe away plaque and acid, both of which can harm the gums and bone that support your implants. A lack of saliva can also cause a dry mouth, which can encourage the growth of microbes.

How long should I wait to smoke after getting dental implants?

Your dentist will offer you information on how to care for your mouth immediately following treatment. It is critical to avoid smoking for as long as possible. It is best not to smoke for at least three months after the implants have been placed to allow for healing and early osseointegration. Waiting this long before smoking will be challenging for some individuals, so you should discuss and agree on timeframes with your dentist.

You must avoid cleaning your mouth vigorously and touching the surgical site with your tongue or fingers in the days following implant placement. This may result in bleeding if the blood clot is dislodged. In addition, spit, suck on straws, or smoke are all prohibited. This can cause blood clots to be disrupted and the healing process to be slowed.

How to Care for Your Dental Implants If You Smoke?

If you have dental implants and continue smoking, you will need to be more careful about your oral health and implant maintenance. Smoking has been shown to hasten the progression of gum disease. Smokers may also be more prone to tooth plaque.

Ignored implants accumulate plaque and tartar and are susceptible to bacterial infection, leading to gum disease. If left untreated, this can progress to peri-implantitis, similar to periodontal disease around natural teeth. Soreness, bleeding, widespread pain, and eventual bone loss around the implants are all possible consequences of this illness. However, healthy surrounding tissues support both natural teeth and dental implants.

It would help if you cleaned around each implant at least twice a day. First, brush all implant tooth or teeth surfaces that you can reach with a standard toothbrush, either manual or electric. Next, you can use floss, an interproximal brush, and/or an oral irrigator device to clean places that are difficult to reach.

The nicotine and tar in tobacco cause tooth discoloration, which is one of the side effects of smoking. Patients who smoke and have dental implants should avoid toothpaste with highly abrasive substances on the market. Baking soda, stain removers, and toothpaste can cause the acrylic to wear and remove the glaze on porcelain.

Regular check-ups and visits to the hygienist are critical to the long-term health of your dental implants. Therefore, your dentist may want to see you more frequently in the first few months after your implants have been placed. After that, a dental hygienist may be referred to you for additional treatment, thorough cleaning, and keeping a closer eye on the health of your mouth.

Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for the longevity of your dental implants and your general health. This is not an easy option for many people, but you can break the habit with the correct assistance and strategy.

If you have any further questions about oral health and dental implants, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Adatrow. Dr. Adatrow has more than 18 years of experience in placing dental implants, with a success rate of over 97%, and can provide you with the best possible dental treatment. He is a Board-Certified Prosthodontist and Periodontist in Memphis, Tennessee. Please get in touch with our office to schedule your consultation now!