Plan to go smoke free for ‘No Smoking Day’ – Wednesday 8th March

Do you still smoke? Or do you know someone who still smokes? Wednesday 8th March, 2023, is a national day to encourage smokers and other users of nicotine to quite the habit and live smoke free, at least for a day.

So much to gain from living smoke free

The British Heart Foundation is here to help.

The benefits of not smoking are so well documented these days, that everyone who smokes is aware of the damage it does. It’s worth thinking of the positive benefits of not smoking though. It’s good for your body, good for the people around you, and good for your teeth and gums.

For all the facts, follow this link to the British Heart Foundation page, outlining the downsides of different tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco. Read this, and you’ll think twice before trying sisha.

More importantly, their website also contains useful advice and contact information to help you quit smoking.

Information from ASH

Key messages for smokers from ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) to help you be smoke free:
Make No Smoking Day 2023 the day you quit for good – you’ve got what it takes!

• • Quitting smoking improves your brain health and reduces your chances of
    dementia.
  • Getting support really boosts your chances of quitting – you’re up to three times
    as likely to succeed.
  • Support from local stop smoking services gives you the best chance of success,
    and GPs and pharmacists can also give advice and tips to help you quit.
  • It’s never too late to quit – stopping improves health and wellbeing, even if you’re
    already sick from smoking.
  • On average smokers spend £47 a week on tobacco, that’s nearly £2,500 a year to spend on other things once you quit.
  • There is a range of free quitting support to help you on No Smoking Day including:
    • the NHS Quit Smoking app, daily emails and SMS;
    • information and advice on stop smoking aids, including how vaping can help you quit; and
    • an online Personal Quit Plan tool that helps you find a combination of support that’s right for you.
    • expert support from local Stop Smoking Services

A smoke free mouth

The ill effects of smoking are not restricted to the heart. Your gums, tongue, other soft tissues in your mouth and lips are exposed to risk. Tobacco products are linked to mouth cancer, as well as other cancers. During a regular dental examination, your dentist checks the soft tissues of your mouth for lesions or lumps and refer patients who need further screening.

If it’s difficult to access regular dental checks, due to the backlog of patients with urgent needs, and a national shortage of dentists, it’s worth doing a quick self-check to make sure you haven’t got any new lumps or bumps. If you find something worrying, you should get in touch with your dentist, or other health care professional, to explain your concern.

• • A quick check for mouth cancer

Smoking is also bad for our teeth. Not only does it discolour teeth, it can lead to tooth loss. Smoking restricts the flow of blood to the gums, so the usual sign of periodontal disease, bleeding gums, is reduced. Left untended, gum disease leads to tooth loss.

Dentists ask questions

Your dentist will ask questions, because it’s their job to look after your oral health. But they won’t judge you. It is part of their routine examination to ask about tobacco use. If you are receptive to the idea of breaking the habit, your dentist can offer suggestions for how to quit.
People who seek support to quite ae generally more successful.

Just one day?

If you can quit for just one day, then why not make it another day too?

Useful Links & Information