Dental implants are the premier option when it comes to replacing missing teeth! Many patients seek out these awesome little implants for their ability to revitalize your mouth and restore its look, feel, and functionality. You might be curious about receiving dental implants, but you’re wondering if your smoking habit is going to affect your candidacy. Here’s what you need to know about smoking and dental implants and how the habit can actually prevent your implants from doing their job.
Can I Still Get Dental Implants If I’m A Smoker?
Research has shown time and time again that smoking negatively affects your oral health! It’s been linked to serious conditions including tooth loss, gum disease, and even oral cancer. But the main problem here with smoking is that it inhibits your mouth’s ability to properly heal. If your implant sites aren’t allowed to heal, your implants have a significantly increased chance of failure. Not to mention, smoking also leaves your implant sites much more vulnerable to infection. Simply put, smoking drastically increases the likelihood of your implants failing, meaning that if you want them, you need to drop the habit!
Can I Smoke After I’ve Healed from Dental Implant Placement?
Once your implant sites have fully healed, your dental implants can still technically fail, although it’s not nearly as likely if you’ve quit smoking for good. However, patients who smoke after healing from their procedure are still twice as likely to experience dental implant failure than their non-smoking counterparts! That said, dental implants are a great reason to quit smoking for good—at least if you want your implants to last!
Tips for Preventing Dental Implant Failure
The best thing you can do to prevent dental implant failure is to simply not smoke at all. That said, you should also consider the following:
- Quit other unhealthy oral habits such as chewing on ice or other hard objects, as well as using your teeth to open bottles or packaging.
- Practice regular oral hygiene and brush and floss daily. Also use an antibacterial mouthwash.
- Visit your dentist for biannual checkups and cleanings.
- Eat a well-balanced and nutrient-rich diet and drink plenty of water.
- Limit your sugar intake and reduce your consumption of processed foods.
Tooth loss is a serious problem that can lead to a slew of other oral health problems, including additional missing teeth! That said, dental implants offer an effective and viable solution; but since smoking can easily inhibit their effectiveness, it’s best to kick the habit now.
About the Practice
South Florida Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery is fortunate to house four incredibly skilled specialists: Dr. Paul Weinstein, Dr. Travis Thompson, Dr. Jeronimo Guzman, and Dr. Christopher Chafin! The practice is pleased to offer several available services including dental implants. If you have any questions about dental implants or would like to schedule an appointment, feel free to visit the practice’s website or give them a call at (561) 743-8311.