New Year, New Smoke-less you

New Year, New smoke-less you. There is nothing like the start of a new year to set ourselves resolutions – new goals for the coming year. January is a great time to start making healthy lifestyle choices, and there is more to choose from than just crash diets and expensive gym memberships. As health professionals, we help guide and motivate our patients every day about making smart decisions that will improve both your oral health and your overall wellbeing. One of the most important of these is quitting smoking. Set a date today, and plan to end this year as a new smoke-less you.

Why quit smoking?

Everyone has there own reasons for quitting; here are some of the common things that are important to our patients:

• Family – be a positive role model to your friends and family, keep the air your family breathe clean and reduce effects of secondary smoke.
• Health – reduce your risk of serious illnesses and improve your fitness.
• Money – save more or spend it wisely on your health, home or travel.
• Appearance & self esteem – look better, smell better and have whiter teeth.
• Stress – learn to manage stress better and regain control.

How does smoking affect my oral health?

• Oral cancer – The most serious effect of smoking is cancer of the mouth and throat. Up to 90% of oral cancers are caused by smoking. There are more than 300 cases of oral cancer diagnosed in Ireland every year. Unfortunately these are often detected at a late stage when chances of survival are low. Quitting smoking and regular oral screenings with your dentist are the key factors for early detection and reducing risk.
• Gum disease – Smoking causes the blood supply in your mouth to reduce and this leads to gum disease, increased infection and a reduced ability to heal after injury and dental treatment. Gum disease can progress quickly in smokers, leading to loss of gum and bone support around the teeth, ultimately causing tooth loss.
• Dry mouth and increased plaque – Smoking fumes dry the mouth and coat the tongue, adding to the cycle of bad breath, loss of taste and gum disease.
• Low success of dental implants and oral surgery – Smoking leads to risk of low success with dental implant integration and healing after gum surgeries.
• Attractiveness – Smoking causes bad breath and tooth discolouration.

If you are contemplating quitting and would like support during your journey, visit www.quit.ie and make an appointment to speak to our dentists today. We are happy to help guide you through the process.