If you are missing one or more teeth, you could be thinking about using dental implants as a solution. If this is the case, then you might have read that you should avoid smoking after the procedure, or your dental care professional might have talked to you about this. These are a few reasons why you should not smoke after getting dental implants.

It Can Slow Down the Healing Process

For one thing, you have to think about the healing process that you have to go through after getting your dental implants. After they are put in, your mouth will need to heal. Of course, there is a healing process that everyone has to go through, including those who have never smoked a cigarette in their lives. However, the healing process can be much tougher for those who smoke. For example, cigarettes can make it harder for your blood to flow and can put you at a greater risk of infection. Therefore, stopping smoking before your surgery and avoiding smoking after you have had your dental implants put in can help you be more successful at healing.

It Can Stain Your New "Teeth"

You probably want your new "teeth" to look as good as possible after they are put in. The last thing that you probably want is for them to turn yellow or brown. Of course, it is more difficult to stain dental implants than to stain real teeth, but tobacco use on a regular basis can eventually cause you to stain your dental implants, particularly if you cause damage to the outer layer of your implants. By stopping smoking, you can help prevent this from happening so that your dental implants can look their best.

They Can Be More Likely to Fail

In order for your dental implants to remain in place and be successful, you have to maintain healthy gums. Unfortunately, tobacco use can damage your gums, which can jeopardize your overall oral health and can cause your implants to fail. Without using tobacco, you can help prevent this problem, so you can help decrease the chances of your implants failing.

As you can probably see, it really is a good idea to avoid smoking cigarettes or using other forms of tobacco after getting dental implants. Even though it can be tough to get rid of the habit, doing so can help you avoid problems with your new dental implants and can positively impact you in other ways in life as well.