Besides causing serious damages to general health, smoking also has adverse effects on oral health.
Consequences of smoking on oral health
Smoking may cause bad breath
Smoking
easily stains your teeth.
The
chance of smokers developing Periodontal Disease
at least five times greater than that of non-smokers.
If a smoker who is already suffering from Periodontal Disease keeps on smoking, the nicotine in the cigarettes will jeopardize the healing potential of oral tissues and reduce the body resistant. This will worsen the condition of the Periodontal Disease.
Refuse cigarettes offered by others. Learn to say “no”
No matter where you are, insist on choosing “non-smoking areas”
Turn your office into a “smoke-free work place”
Encourage
your family and friends to quit smoking. Refuse second-hand
smoking
Maintain
a healthy life-style by having a balanced diet and exercising
regularly to release stress
Ways to quit smoking
Discover motives
List out reasons for quitting as motives. For example, quitting smoking can:
Save money
Make you look smart
Make
boy/girl friend adore you even more
Make plans
Change habits that will trigger your urge to smoke. Make a plan that will help you quit smoking. At the initial stage of quitting, you may try chewing sugarless gums instead of smoking.
Persist to the end
You need to be determined and persistent that you will not to be affected by cigarettes again.
Seek help
Should you need help and assistance, please dial 2838 3266 for the 24-hour hotline of “The Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health”.
