Cancel | Bow Lane Dental in London

Our dental clinic is open and you can read our COVID-safe procedures here.

We have unfortunately had to temporarily stop our beauty treatments in line with Government regulations. All existing appointments will be rescheduled.

It's never too late to quit smoking!

It's never too late to quit smoking!
It's never too late to quit smoking!

No Smoking Day is an annual health awareness day in the United Kingdom which is intended to help smokers who want to quit smoking. It takes place on the second Wednesday in March. Research has found that 1 in 10 smokers quit on No Smoking Day.

There's never a better time to quit smoking than right now. Your health will start to improve as soon as you quit smoking no matter how long you've smoked for. So, the sooner you quit smoking, the sooner you'll start noticing changes to your body and health.

It’s never too late to stop smoking, and many health benefits will happen quicker than you think.

Many people do not realize the damage that smoking does to their mouth, gums and teeth.

Smoking leads to dental problems as well, including:

  • Bad breath
  • Tooth discoloration
  • Inflammation of the salivary gland
  • Increased build-up of plaque and tartar on the teeth
  • Increased loss of bone within the jaw
  • Increased risk of leukoplakia, white patches inside the mouth
  • Increased risk of developing gum disease, a leading cause of tooth loss
  • Delayed healing process following tooth extraction, periodontal treatment, or oral surgery
  • Lower success rate of dental implant procedures
  • Increased risk of developing oral cancer

One of the effects of smoking isstaining on the teeth due to the nicotine and tar. It can make your teethyellow in a very short time, and with heavy smokers, their teeth are almostbrown after years of smoking.

Smoking can also lead to gumdisease. Gum disease is still the most common cause of tooth loss in adults. Peoplewho smoke produce more bacterial plaque, which leads to gum disease. Smokingalso causes lack of oxygen in the bloodstream, so the infected gums does notheal. Smokers have more dental plaque build-up and causes gum disease to getworse more quickly than in non-smokers.

People who smoke are more likely tohave bad breath than non-smokers. Mouthwashes may help to disguise the problemin the short term, but will not cure it.

Most people still don't know smoking is one of the main causes of mouth cancer too. Every year thousands of people die from mouth cancer brought on by smoking.

Is smokeless tobacco safer than cigarettes?

No, they contain at least 28chemicals that have been shown to increase the risk of oral cancer and cancerof the throat and oesophagus.

In fact, chewing tobacco containshigher levels of nicotine than cigarettes, making it harder to quit.

Smokeless tobacco can also irritateyour gum tissue, causing it to recede or pull away from your teeth. Once thegum tissue recedes, your teeth roots become exposed, creating an increased riskof tooth decay. Exposed roots are also more sensitive to hot and cold or otherirritants, making eating and drinking uncomfortable.

In addition, sugars, which areoften added to enhance the flavour of smokeless tobacco, can increase your riskfor tooth decay. It also typically contains sand and grit, which can wear downyour teeth.

Statistics from the Cancer Societystates that:

  • About 90% of people with cancer of the mouth, lips, tongue, and throat use tobacco. Smokers are six times more likely than non-smokers to develop these cancers.
  • About 37% of patients who persist in smoking after apparent cure of their cancer will develop second cancers of the mouth, lips, tongue, and throat, compared with only 6% of those who stop smoking.

How often should I visit my dentist?

It is very important that you visityour dentist regularly for a full mouth examination so that any other conditionscan be spotted early.

Your dentist will carry out aregular examination to make sure that your teeth and gums and whole mouth arehealthy. They will also examine your cheeks, tongue and throat for any signs ofother conditions that may need more investigation.

They may also be able to put you intouch with organisations and self-help groups who will have the latest informationto help you stop smoking.

Your dentist may also refer you toa dental hygienist for thorough cleaning and to keep a closer check on thehealth of your mouth. People who smoke are more likely to have stained teeth,and therefore may need frequent appointments with the dental hygienist. Yourdental hygienist will also be able to advise you on how often you should visitthem, although this should usually be every three to six months.

Ready to quit?

With the right support, you're 4 times more likely to quitfor good!

Smoking cessation classes and support groups are offeredthrough local hospitals in your community. Ask your doctor or dentist forinformation on similar programs they may be familiar with.

https://quitnow.smokefree.nhs.uk/

Visit us

Address

Thorpe Lea Dental
Thorpe Road
Staines-Upon-Thames
Surrey
TW18 3EQ

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