Know the Effects of Smoking Cigarettes on Dental Implants

Cigarette smoking is a common habit. If you are considering dental implants in Lutz, FL, to replace your missing teeth, your dentist will ask you, “do you smoke?” We are familiar with how cigarette smoking affects general health. Even though many people do not appreciate the damage caused to oral health. It can lead to tooth staining, gum disease, tooth loss, and, in more severe cases, mouth cancer.

Can You Have Dental Implants if You Are a Smoker?

Your dentist will decide if you are a candidate for dental implant treatment if you are a smoker. Smoking can affect the success of your implants. Your dentist may ask you to stop smoking or reduce the amount you smoke before starting dental implant treatment. 

Smoking After Dental Implant

Smoking cigarettes can be a significant risk factor in the success of bone integration. You will receive instructions from your dentist explaining how to take care of your mouth immediately after a dental implant. It would help if you waited two months after implant placement to start smoking again.  

Take Care of Your Dental Implant When Smoking

• It would help if you aimed to clean around each implant twice a day.  
• You should brush all the surfaces of the implant tooth. 
• You can use either manual or electric toothbrushes. 
• Use floss, an interproximal brush, or an oral irrigator device to clean the surfaces you can’t reach. 
• Avoid toothpaste that contains excessively abrasive ingredients. 
• Regular check-ups and visits to the hygienist are essential to maintaining your dental implant’s health.    

For the first months after getting your dental implant, your dentist may ask you to visit more frequently. It is also a possibility that you will refer to a dental hygienist for different treatments, a complete cleaning, or to keep a closer eye on your oral health. 

Giving up smoking is the best thing you can do for the durability of your dental implants and general health. 

Do You Need Dental Implants in Lutz, FL?

Smoking is not the only risk factor for implant failure, but understanding the implications of this habit is necessary for a successful plan for a smoker. Request your appointment today! Give us a call.