All forms of tobacco use are dangerous for your oral health. This includes smoking cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snus packets, and cigars. Quitting these bad habits is very important and you should not let them control your life. They put your health in danger and can lead to numerous health problems including cancer of the mouth or lungs, gingivitis, heart attack, and other serious complications and diseases. You can also save a lot of money by quitting these habits.
Nicotine and the other toxins found in these products can lead to several health defects such as oral cancer, lung cancer, periodontal disease (which is a leading cause of tooth sensitivity and tooth loss), and a slower healing process after tooth extractions or oral surgery. Being a tobacco user can also make you a poor candidate for certain dental treatments like implants or porcelain veneers. This is because smoking can make your teeth too weak to withstand certain procedures.
Less severe effects of tobacco use include bad breath, stained teeth and tongue, and a loss of taste and/or smell. Smokeless tobacco products have numerous negative effects on your health just as smoking products do. Researchers have found at least 28 cancer-causing chemicals in smokeless tobacco products. Your mouth and lungs aren’t the only areas susceptible to cancer; your voice box, esophagus, colon, and bladder are also at risk because of the toxins that are carried to these parts of your body through your blood.
Quitting is very important for your short term and long term health. The American Dental Association recommends these tips to help quit smoking:
– Set a date to quit and stick to it. Choose a “low stress” time to quit
– Enlist the support of your family, friends and co-workers.
– Ask your dentist or physician about nicotine replacement therapy for use in cessation attempts. Using these medicines can double your chances of quitting for good.
– Remove tobacco and tobacco paraphernalia from your home, office and car.
– Seek tobacco-free environments to curve your temptations.
– Exercise. It may make you feel better about yourself and your decision to quit smoking.
– When you crave a tobacco—exercise the 4 D’s:
**Delay—craving will pass in 5–10 minutes
**Drink water—it will help to wash the toxins from your body
**Do something else—distract yourself by being active.
**Deep breathing—deep inhalations and exhalations are relaxing.
– Anticipate problems and have a realistic plan to deal with challenges.
– Call 1-800-QUITNOW or go to www.smokefree.gov
