#Best De-Addiction Specialist in Indore
The decision to quit smoking may be easy, but sticking with the decision is the hard part! Yes, it is hard but not impossible. Many of us are aware of the harmful effects smoking and other tobacco products have on our lungs and overall health. But you will be surprised to learn smoking can also reason major problems for your oral health. Besides staining teeth and causing bad breath, smoking rises the chances of developing various oral diseases. Possible effects of Smoking and all Tobacco products on oral health include:
Tooth Discoloration: Smoking stains teeth due to the nicotine and tar in tobacco. It can make your teeth yellow in a very short time and heavy smokers often complain that their teeth are almost brown after years of smoking.
Bad Breath: Bad breath, medically called halitosis, can result from poor dental health habits and tobacco is one of the reasons for Bad breath. Smoking and chewing tobacco dries out your mouth and causes bad breath.
Chances of Developing Oral Cancer: Use of tobacco rises the risk of oral cancer by exposing the mouth to these carcinogenic chemicals, either during inhalation while smoking or through direct contact while chewing tobacco products.
Gum Diseases: Smoking and other tobacco products can lead to gum disease by affecting the attachment of bone and soft tissue to your teeth. And tobacco smokers typically do not have bleeding gums as they have a poor blood supply to the gums.
Dry mouth: Smoking can slow down saliva production and can dry out the mouth and aggravate problems like difficulty in chewing and swallowing and frequent ulcerations.
Loose teeth: Smoking and chewing tobacco harm the supporting structures of your teeth like the gums, periodontal ligaments, and the underlying bone. This may ultimately reason your teeth to become loose.
Quitting is difficult, and it will take time. To quit, you need a good plan, some alternatives and a whole lot of support from your family and friends. Here are few methods which will help you quit Tobacco
Trigger avoidance – Avoid any triggers that make you want to smoke. Maybe it’s drinking, eating certain foods or attending social events. Whatever the reason, ignore it until you feel you can handle it.
Mark the calendar – Once you decide to quit, set a date and stick to it. Choose a date 2 to 4 weeks from today. Quitting can be hard, so map out a plan that works for you.
Lean on your loved ones – Your family, friends, and doctor can provide support. If possible, find a friend or family member to quit with. They can encourage you to keep going, especially when you’re tempted to light up. For help, you can also join a support group or talk to a counsellor.
Use substitutes– Chew on sugar-free gum, nuts and seeds or use nicotine patches/lozenges prescribed by your doctor to help you resist the urge to smoke.
Health effects
Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, many of which are known to cause cancer. Those who smoke a little once in a while may enjoy the stimulant or relaxing effects of tobacco and may not notice changes in their health. But even light and occasional smoking increases our risk of experiencing tobacco-related illness.
Tobacco use also has the potential to negatively affect our social lives. For instance, a few cigarettes may help us relax in a social setting. But non-smoking policies have become the norm in public places and in many homes, potentially leading to fewer opportunities to socialize with friends who may not want to be around second-hand smoke.
The longer a person smokes or is around smoke, the greater their chances of developing a smoking-related illness such as heart attack, stroke, cancer of the lungs or mouth or throat, and respiratory diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Smoking also puts us at risk of developing problems with our teeth and gums. If women smoke when pregnant, they are at enlarged risk of miscarriage and their babies may have a lower body weight.