Quitting Smoking – Your New Year Resolution Revisited

A quick reminder of one new year resolution that you really should be keeping!

It is now approximately three weeks since any new year resolutions were made; that is, if you made one at all. For those that did, it is likely that many of our Bedford patients will have let some of them slip; something that happens to most of us. Some resolutions we make are probably not that important but others certainly are. One of the most important of these is the determination to stop smoking.

Few people would now argue that smoking is beneficial for us and long gone are the days when some doctors would recommend them as an aid to relaxation. Far more likely are warnings about lung cancer and heart disease. Let us take a look then, at some reminders as to why quitting smoking altogether is the best option of all.

Cost

For many people, the impetus for quitting has been the cost. With a twenty a day smoker spending somewhere in the region of five and a half thousand pounds a year, most of us would agree that this money could be spent much better. If you are thinking of quitting due to cost, just imagine what you would spend that sort of money on. That has to be a major motivation. From a general increase in daily funds, a nice holiday, or even some smile improvement treatments, that sort of money can make a real difference.

Cancer and heart disease

We don’t need to go into great detail about how dangerous smoking is for your general health. Cancer and heart disease risks greatly increase if you are a smoker and it really isn’t worth risking your health and potentially your life.

Oral cancer

While much focus is put on lung cancer, and quite rightly; oral cancer is also a big risk. The irritants and chemicals in the smoke can greatly increase your risk of this. At its most serious, mouth cancer can prove to be fatal, and even if you survive, facial disfiguration is a real possibility. Stopping smoking is one of the best things that you can do to help prevent this, and regular visits to the hygienist are important too, to help prevent oral health problems from occurring.

Gum disease

One of the most common oral health issues that smokers are likely to encounter is gum disease. This is sometimes all too easily dismissed as not being that important by some people, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. While the earlier stage of gingivitis can present symptoms such as sore gums, a little bleeding and general discomfort, this should be taken of a warning sign that periodontitis might not be far away and more serious problems including tooth loss may become a real possibility.

Cigarette smoke can irritate the gums and lead to soreness and inflammation, but the main link between smoking and gum disease is usually a dry mouth, enabling bacteria to thrive; or the narrowing of blood vessels due to nicotine, which can slow down healing and lead to infections.

Stopping smoking will make a big improvement to your oral health and you should discuss this with the hygienist at The Dental Centre Bedford.

Halitosis

One especially antisocial side effect of the above condition is that you are quite likely to develop halitosis, or ‘stinky breath’. You might not notice this yourself but those around you certainly will and might even start to avoid you. Of course, smoking also makes you smell, with the smoke being traceable on both your breath and on your clothes.

Tooth discolouration

Perhaps a less ‘important’ effect of smoking is the staining that it causes to your teeth. This may not directly be harmful for your teeth but it can make them look very unattractive, with smokers usually not just having duller teeth but also often a yellow or brown colour. Depending on how long you have smoked for and how many you smoke a day, you may require porcelain veneers to correct this discolouration, or if you are fortunate and have not stained your teeth too badly, a tooth whitening procedure might suffice.

As you can see from the above, smoking causes many potentially serious issues and is also very expensive as well as ruining your smile. There is no real point in smoking, and seeking help to quit if you can’t do so alone, is strongly recommended.

Make sure too, to book an appointment with the dentist and hygienist at our popular local practice. To make your appointment, please call our friendly and helpful reception team at The Dental Centre Bedford on 01234 819868.