SO YOUʼRE A SMOKER
At our practice we care about your dental and oral health and as such there are a few important things that we want you to know about how smoking can affect your oral health.
Oral Cancer
As a smoker you are 6 times more likely get oral cancer. Oral cancer is a debilitating condition that requires radical surgery and has poor survival rates. Although it is relatively unccommon, it is
on the increase in the UK.
Periodontal Disease
As a smoker you are around 4 times more likey to have Periodontal disease, the disease that destroys the bonesupport from around teeth and is the primary cause of tooth loss in patients over the age
of 25. If you have gum disease, it is treatable although research tells us the results or our treatments are less than that for a non-smoker. The good news is that smokers who quit can respond well
to treatment. Smoking has a number of effects, one of which is to reduce the blood flow to the gums. This often masks the early warning signs of gum
disease like bleeding when you brush your teeth.
Halitosis
Halitosis (bad breath) is commonly associated with smoking and although mouthwashes and regular tooth brushing can help, they only have short term effects and smoking cessation is more effective.
If you are considering quitting smoking we would encourage you to discuss this with your medical practice as research shows that people who try to quit as part of a
managed program are 4 times more likely to quit than those who try and do it alone.
Other options for helping you quit are:
Nicotine replacement therapy- chewing gums, patches, gels, etc
Hypnosis
Champix- this is a nicotine receptor blocking tablet that is available on prescription from your doctor on the NHS. It has very good success rates and minimal side
effects
Allen Carr Foundation- see www.allencarr.com for more information