Smoking and Your Oral Health

Most people know that smoking is bad for their health. However, many people do not realise the damage that smoking does to their mouth, teeth and gums.

In this month’s blog we look at how smoking can impact your oral health.

Teeth Staining

The nicotine and tar present in cigarettes can cause your teeth to turn yellow very quickly and after a few years they can appear almost brown. This can affect not only your appearance but your confidence and self esteem as well.

Gum Disease and Tooth Loss

Smoking increases the level of bacteria present in the plaque in your mouth, which if not removed in your daily oral hygiene routine, can lead to gum disease. Once gum disease develops, the lower levels of oxygen present in a smoker’s blood can prevent the gums from healing. Gum disease progresses more quickly in smokers, increasing the risk of tooth loos.

Mouth Cancer

Not only can smoking lead to lung and throat cancer, it is also one of the main causes of mouth cancer as well. Every year thousands of people die from mouth cancer brought on by smoking and it is one of the few cancers which is still seeing a rise in diagnosis levels.

With all this in mind the team at Valley Dental Practice have come up with their 5 top tips to help you quit

1. Set a date

Pick a date when you are going to stop and stick to it. Try to make sure that it is at a time when you are not trying to juggle too many other things. If it is a time of high stress you are much more likely to give in to temptation.

2. Think positive

This may be the first, second or tenth time you have tried to quit, but it does not mean it cannot be the last. Build on the experiences from when you have tried to quit before, what caused you to fall off the wagon and what can you put in place to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.

3. Keep it simple

Do not attempt too much at once. A lot of people try to diet as well as quitting smoking, this is a recipe for disaster. Try to concentrate on one thing or the other, it may take a bit longer, but you are far more likely to succeed.

4. Get moving

Exercise can help to cut cravings and may help your brain to produce positive hormones making it easier to stay strong. This can be a good thing to do if you are used to having a cigarette after meals, go for a walk instead and create a new habit to curb the cravings.

5. Remember why

Before you stop, make a list of all the reasons that you want to stop smoking. If you find that you are wavering or think you might have a relapse, get the list out and read it. This will help you to focus on the positives of not smoking until the craving has passed.

If you would like further information about quitting smoking or improving your oral health, call Valley Dental Practice on 01255 220322 and book in for a consultation.

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