June 18, 2025
Dental implants are simply the best way to replace missing teeth and restore your beautiful smile. But if you’re a smoker, you may have heard that this could be a roadblock to your treatment’s success. Here’s why if you use tobacco products and want dental implants, it’s important to quit as soon as possible.
The Dangers of Tobacco to Your Smile
There are several ways tobacco can potentially damage your smile and put your new dental implants at risk. The first is that it can slow the healing process, because it reduces the blood flow to your gums. This can make it harder for your incisions to heal, leaving them vulnerable to dry sockets or infections. This is why your dentist asks that you quit smoking at least two weeks prior to your dental implant surgery, and for as long as you can post-procedure.
When Can I Resume Smoking Again?
For many smokers, quitting temporarily can be very difficult, and it is not uncommon for them to be eager to restart. While this is understandable, it is very important to stay tobacco free for as long as possible following your dental implant procedure. This will not only ensure that your new prosthetics have the best odds for survival, but it will also benefit your overall health in myriad ways. In fact, non-smokers enjoy healthier lives, and have been shown to live about ten years longer on average than those who smoke!
What if I Vape / Dab/ Chew Tobacco?
While many people erroneously believe that smoking is the only dangerous habit that involves tobacco or nicotine, the truth is that consuming any form is bad for your health, including vaping, chewing tobacco, “dabbing”, or using all-natural cigarettes. Thus, don’t assume that just because you’re not smoking a cigarette your teeth, gums, and body are any better off. In fact, in some cases, other methods can be much more dangerous, especially since the contents of vape fluid are largely unregulated and could contain much more harmful chemicals than your standard cigarette.
Remember, to ensure that your new dental implants have the best odds of success, it is important to eliminate any dangerous habits like smoking, vaping, chewing, or dabbing. Each of these actions can be extremely harmful to your dental implants, remaining teeth, and overall health and wellbeing.
About Dr. Sadeddin
Dr. Yazan Sadeddin earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree from the Loma Linda School of Dentistry in California in 2014 and relocated to Texas shortly after. He’s been proudly providing high-quality dental care to patients of all ages ever since! If you are interested in learning more about how you can restore your smile with the help of dental implants, Majestic Dental can help. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Sadeddin and the team, please visit our website or call us today at 281-820-6412.