Denture News

Quitting Smoking – For Denture Wearers

Quitting Smoking – For Denture Wearers

Quitting smoking for denture wearers – One of the most harmful yet preventable vices for our oral health and overall health are cigarettes. Smoke is highly addictive and sometimes hard to quit, but there are plenty of different resources like nicotine replacement therapy, or books that can help us all get rid of this nasty habit. While denture wearers might have a few challenges with products they can use, here are a few products to avoid and products that work well with dentures to keep them shining bright and long-lasting.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

The most suggested way for quitting smoking for denture wearers is to use products that curb cravings by replacing the nicotine you get from cigarettes. While there are a lot of different products out there, we are focusing on what to use as a denture wearer. When considering NRT when wearing dentures it’s important to minimize damage your dentures could suffer.

Best Nicotine Replacement Therapy For Denture Wearers

  1. Nicotine Patches

Why it’s good: Nicotine patches are worn on the skin releasing nicotine into the bloodstream, without involving the mouth – completely avoiding any interaction with the mouth or gums.

  • Pros
    • No impact on dentures.
    • Ease of use, and discreet.
    • Provides controlled nicotine release.
  • Cons
    • Some people may experience skin irritation.
    • doesn’t have oral fixation some smokers miss.

2. Nicotine Inhalers

Why It’s Good: Nicotine Inhalers are good because they can curb the oral fixation some ex-smokers miss, and no harmful smoke enters the body or mouth that may harm your dentures and your health as a whole.

  • Pros
    • Offers a more smoking-like experience.
    • There is a low risk of damaging dentures
  • Cons
    • It can cause throat irritation or coughing in some cases.

3. Nicotine Lozenges (with caution)

Why they’re good: Nicotine Lozenges are a good option for dentures and smoking because they are placed in the mouth and nicotine is slowly released into the cheek. Denture wearers should wear with caution ensuring that the lozenge doesn’t stick or interfere with the fit of the denture.

  • Pros
    • Discreet and portable
    • Easy to manage nicotine dosage by frequency of use
  • Cons
    • Lozenges can cause discomfort in the mouth and can dislodge the denture if not taken with caution.

Worst Nicotine Replacement Therapy To Use With Dentures.

  1. Nicotine Gum (worst overall)

Why it’s bad: Nicotine Gum requires chewing, and the gum itself can stick to the denture and can interfere with how to denture sits in your mouth, not to mention uneven chewing which can lead to a breakage or irritation or sore of the gums.

  • Cons
    • Can dislodge or stick to dentures
    • May cause irritation or soreness
    • Denture wearers may struggle to chew gum effectively

2. Nicotine Nasal Spray

  • Why it’s bad: While this isn’t applied via mouth, it can cause throat irritation and also lead to a dry mouth which does fair well when having dentures in.
  • Cons
    • It can lead to dry mouth.
    • It can cause throat irritation.

Alternate Options:

  • Nicotine Pouches – While they can be effective, some people who have a full set of dentures may not be able to use them since applying them to your gums are necessary. Nicotine Pouches may also cause receding of gum tissue and can lead to gum sores.
  • Vape Pens – While less damaging to the denture than smoking may be, vape pens are also harmful to your overall health and can lead to issues such as popcorn lung and other health complications.
  • Quit Smoking Books – There are also some great resources to help quit smoking such as – Alan Carr’s the easy way.

Final Thoughts

If you’re having trouble with oral health as a smoker and wear dentures, quitting smoking is the best way to protect both your mouth and your dentures. Smoking can cause excessive staining on dentures, making them look discolored and less natural. It can also irritate your gums, leading to sore spots and a poor fit for your dentures. By quitting, you’ll reduce the buildup of harmful bacteria in your mouth, which can prolong the life of your dentures and improve the overall comfort and health of your gums.