What are the effects of smoking on your oral health?

Smoking & Teeth

There are now so many different types of implant systems, brands and techniques available that it can become quite confusing as to which one is the best for you.

We choose to use only the very best implant brands that not only provide an efficient system of treatment delivery but one that is also the most optimal for the patient.

We do this by customising the patient’s choice of implant according to their unique situation and specific oral foundation.

We specialise in customising the Implant Treatment Plan to be highly compatible with the patient’s requirements and their mouths.

Implants have been used to give patients back their nutritional health due to proper chewing ability and increased confidence by improved aesthetics.

However, the success of these treatment lies in selecting the correct match for the patient.

In the early days when implant treatment first came about, although they were an amazing concept, there were many limitations and not enough clinical evidential backup.

They were also very expensive and thus not available to everyone. 

Fortunately, nowadays thanks to innovative designs and collaborative global clinical networks, dental implants are not only easily available to almost every person but also to every situation.

There is now such a huge variety of type, design and brand of dental implants that the skill now lies in the correct selection of all available options.

It is imperative that you have the implant system which is the most compatible with your situaton in the mouth.

The Implant Brands we prefer to use:

1. Straumann
2. Nobel Biocare
3. Neodent
4. Biohorizons
5. Astra Tech

Why do we choose these brands?

For many of us, the beginning of the New Year often brings the pressure to make commitments to abandon our bad habits and make changes to better ourselves.

Giving up smoking is at the top of the list for many people.

Although we all know the difficulty of giving up an addiction, there is an infinite amount of information and resources that can help you stick to your goal and quit smoking for good.

If you are a smoker, you are not only putting your overall health at risk, but also your oral health and teeth.

If you are a smoker – you are already more susceptible to gum disease, and the methods used to treat gum disease will be less effective.

What is gum disease?

Gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) is an oral infection that impacts the bone structure supporting your teeth.

If periodontal disease is left untreated, you can end up losing teeth.

Smoking can dramatically increase your likelihood of getting gum disease.

Gum disease occurs when bacteria on your teeth gets into your gums and layers of plaque and tartar develop. The buildup of these substances can then lead to periodontal disease.

As gum disease worsens, the gums may pull away from the teeth and leave spaces that are vulnerable to further infection.

More severe forms of gum disease are referred to as: periodontitis.

If periodontitis becomes too advanced, your teeth can break down, or they may loosen then the dentist will need to surgically remove them.

How does smoking contribute?

If you are a regular smoker or tobacco user, you are increasing your chances of being effected by gum disease.

Use of tobacco can lead to gum disease because it causes the attachment of bone and soft tissue to your teeth.

Smoking negatively impacts the normal functioning of gum tissue cells, and this means smokers are more likely to experience infections such as periodontal disease.

Smoking impacts the flow of blood to the gums – which generally means infections are slower to heal.

What does this mean for smokers?

• Smokers have double the risk of contracting gum disease than nonsmokers
• The more cigarettes you smoke, the higher the chance you will suffer from gum disease
• If you smoke for a prolonged period, your chances will be even higher
• Treatment methods for gum disease are less effective for heavy smokers

Finding advice on how to quit smoking…

Clearly, smoking and tobacco have a detrimental impact on your oral health.

However, we acknowledge that it is undeniably difficult to kick the habit of smoking.

No matter how long you have been a smoker for, it is always possible to quit the habit and improve both your general and oral health before it is too late.

If you can’t quit fully, even reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke daily can reduce your likelihood of experiencing periodontal disease.

See the NHS advice page on making small changes to kick the habit.

Worried about the impact smoking has already had on your oral health?

Then get in contact today on 01992 552115 and organise a free consultation meeting or book a check up with one of our dentists.