No Smoking Day is a yearly health awareness campaign that urges smokers to give up. This annual event, which takes place on March's second Wednesday, brings together individuals and organizations to assist smokers in their efforts to give up smoking.
Oral Health Connection
Oral health is significantly impacted by smoking. It may raise your chances of tooth discoloration, gum disease, tooth loss, dry mouth, and—most dangerous of all—mouth cancer.
Tobacco's nicotine and tar can cause teeth to yellow rapidly, and long-term heavy smokers may notice brown stains on their teeth from deep-set stains.
Gum disease is yet another major issue. Smoking alters blood oxygen levels, which prevents diseased gums from healing. This may hasten the gum disease's course and result in tooth loss.
Additionally, smoking is a major contributing factor to mouth cancer, which affects about 10,000 people in the UK annually.
How to Quit
While it can be difficult, quitting smoking is not impossible.
To assist smokers in quitting, the NHS provides a number of free resources and support. These include local Stop Smoking Services, the NHS Quit Smoking app, and a range of nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs), such as patches, gums, and vape pens.
"It is crucial to find the appropriate combination of procedures that work for you, and remember, it is never too late to quit," says Dr. Nigel Carter, CEO of the Oral Health Foundation.
Consult your physician, pharmacist, or dentist to find out more about the smoking cessation method that might work best for you.
Benefits of Quitting
The advantages of stopping smoking come into play almost instantly.
Your heart rate will start to return to normal about 20 minutes. Oxygen levels return to normal after 8 hours, whereas carbon monoxide levels decrease by half. Taste and smell improve, and all carbon monoxide is eliminated after 48 hours.
Dr. Carter continues, "Quitting smoking also means better oral health overall, fresher breath, and no more teeth discoloration from cigarettes."
"This includes a lower risk of mouth cancer, greater gum health, and a higher likelihood of preserving your teeth."
The long-term advantages of stopping smoking include lower chances of lung cancer and heart attacks in addition to improved oral health.
Conclusion
No Smoking Day is an opportunity to start fresh, not merely a marketing gimmick.
In addition to enhancing your dental health, giving up smoking is a big step toward living a better life.
Thus, start your road toward quitting smoking on this No Smoking Day by making use of the resources accessible to you.
