Now's A Good Time For You To Start With Help From Crown House Dental!

According to NHS Smokefree one out of two smokers will die from their habit. Smoking is the biggest preventable cause of death in the UK and it comes with many risks, health issues and associated negatives.

You may well already be aware of the risks, but perhaps it hasn't been the right time to quit smoking yet? Smoking addiction has been compared to true drug addictions and it can be very hard to quit; but if you speak to an ex smoker, they will likely tell you it was worth it, and even better, it gets easier and easier the longer you abstain.

The longer you don't smoke, the better your health and in some cases, you can completely reverse some damage done by smoking. Dr Ahmad Sami takes a closer look below:

Why Now?

We wanted to speak to you about quitting smoking now because we are approaching Stoptober, one of the government's initiatives to help people quit smoking. The idea is that you quit for a month and that increases your chances of quitting for good four-fold, compared to attempting to quit for a week, or mentally preparing for a lifelong quit all in one go.

Although you might not necessarily want to take part in Stoptober, this time of year is a great time to think about quitting because you'll be doing it at the same time as lots of other people, which can be helpful. It also means you would get a head start on quitting ready for next year, or at the very least making plans to quit into 2019, for your healthiest year yet. Your Egham dentist wants to help by providing you with information and support!

What Smoking Does To The Body

Smoking has a massive effect on the whole body, and understanding the risks smoking poses to your health can be a big motivation for change:

Circulation

The poisons in cigarettes thicken the blood, make it more likely for you to have a blood clot, and increase your heart rate to make your heart have to work really hard. Over time your arteries narrow, which increase your risk of getting a stroke, or having a heart attack.

Heart

Your heart is working harder when you smoke, and smoking is also damaging it, increasing your risk of having a heart attack, struggling with heart disease, having a stroke or having issues with your heart blood vessels and arteries.

Stomach

You have a higher chance of getting a stomach ulcer and getting stomach cancer when you smoke. You are also at a much higher risk of getting kidney cancer.

Skin

Smokers skin is often grey and ages faster than a non-smokers skin. This is because of the lack of oxygen to the skin, caused by smoking, and the toxins in the smoke. Wrinkles are common with smokers, especially smokers lines around the mouth caused by the sucking motion.

Bones

Your bones can be affected by smoking, causing them to become more brittle and more at risk from bone conditions like osteoporosis.

Brain

You are more likely to have a stroke if you are a smoker, 50% more likely according to NHS Smokefree.

Lungs

Your lungs get affected badly by smoking, with coughs, colds and other issues being the tip of the iceberg. Pneumonia, lung cancer and emphysema are all potential risks from smoking, as well as COPD which is a long term condition that accounts for a collection of different lung conditions.

Fertility

Women can have reduced fertility because of smoking, and it can greatly reduce the chances of success with conceiving. Smoking can also increase your risk of getting cervical cancer. When it comes to pregnancy, smoking whilst pregnant is known to increase your risk of miscarriage, premature birth and other complications. With men, smoking can cause impotence because it damages the blood vessels that take blood to the penis. It also damages male fertility and contributes to your risk of getting testicular cancer.

Why Crown House Dental In Egham Wants To Help You Quit Smoking

Smoking is really bad for your overall health, but it is exceptionally bad for your oral health. At the very least smoking can cause bad breath because of stale smoke and because it dries out the mouth. Aesthetically, smoking can cause stains on the teeth and as it makes you more likely to suffer from gum disease, if that is left to progress, tooth loss could be a reality. Smoking also changes your enjoyment of food as it changes the taste buds and can damage them. More seriously, smoking chemicals cause endless mutations in cells in the mouth and throat leaving you at an increased risk of mouth and throat cancers. Cancer Research UK statistics show:

• Smoking is the biggest cause of cancer in the UK
• Smoking tobacco increases your risk of developing mouth and oropharyngeal cancer
• More than 60% of mouth and throat cancers are caused by smoking
• Some evidence suggests second hand smoke increases your risk of getting mouth or throat cancer

There are seemingly endless benefits to quitting smoking for your bank balance, your health, your families health, and your appearance. You can read about some of the benefits of quitting smoking here.

Your Egham dentist knows that the single best thing you can do for your oral health, and overall health this Autumn is to quit smoking, and we want to help you in any way we can.

Preparing To Quit Smoking

Some people do quit smoking almost instantaneously and experience success. However, most people need to prepare because it can be very difficult, and preparation provides better chances of success. To prepare to quit smoking we advise:

• Setting a date for quitting. It could be your birthday, an anniversary, or the beginning of Stoptober along with thousands of other people.
• Letting colleagues, friends and family know you plan to quit so they can offer support and avoid putting temptation your way.
• Anticipate challenges you will face when you quit so you can prepare for them. For example; you know you want a cigarette first thing in the morning, so perhaps have a nicotine replacement aid like gum to help, or have some expensive tea to drink instead, or maybe walk to work for the distraction.
• Prepare to remove nicotine products from work and home so you don't have direct temptation. Use them up in advance of your quitting date.
• Speak to your doctor or pharmacist about quitting smoking to get help and advice.

The more prepared you are for this huge challenge, the more likely you are to succeed. It will take determination mostly, but you can set yourself up for success with plenty of support, preparation and planning.

Let Crown House Dental In Egham Help

If you do want to quit smoking, we want to help. Please speak to us at your next appointment, or book an appointment with the dentist or Egham hygienist for tips and advice. It may also be useful to consider booking teeth whitening or other cosmetic dentistry treatments for a month to six weeks after quitting, to get rid of the signs of smoking that show in your smile. It can be a great incentive to stay off the cigarettes, and to start a fresh chapter with your smile and your oral health. You will definitely have plenty to smile about if you quit smoking for good!

You can reach our friendly team on 01784432641 and we will be more than happy to book you an appointment at a time to suit you. We are here to support you with this challenge, so that you can make one of the best changes for your health possible.