IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO QUIT SMOKING FOR 2011, SAYS WALSALL DENTIST

A Walsall dentist has urged locals to quit smoking habit ahead of this year’s National No Smoking Day on Wednesday 9th March, saying that it’s not too late to resolve to kick the habit for 2011.

Yusuf Kaderbhai of WS4 Dental Care, based at Lichfield Street, is taking the opportunity to remind smokers of the benefits of quitting, which include improving the health of your teeth and gums, as well as reducing the risk of developing oral cancer.

“Many people may have made a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking but fallen at the first hurdle,” said Yusuf. “However, the good news is that we’re only just into March and it’s not too late to quit for 2011. National No Smoking Day provides a great opportunity for people to re-focus and give quitting another go.”

As well as being bad for our overall health and causing fatal heart and lung diseases, smoking and tobacco are also linked to a variety of oral health problems including bad breath, gum disease and tooth loss, tooth staining and, most seriously, oral cancer.

“Tobacco is linked to three quarters of all oral cancer cases, so giving up smoking will reduce your chances of developing this killer disease, which claims one life every five hours in the UK,” said Yusuf.

“There are also many aesthetic repercussions of smoking such as stained teeth, yellow hands, and an increased chance of developing or worsening facial wrinkles,” he added, “not to mention the impact on the health of your teeth and gums.”

For those taking the first positive steps of quitting, Yusuf recommends speaking to your doctor or dentist for support:

“Studies* have shown that if people seek smoking cessation support, they stand a better chance of giving up,” he said. “Always ask for help from your GP, dentist or local NHS support group. You should also consider Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), such as patches, inhalators, and gum, because they make dealing with withdrawal symptoms much easier.”

For further information and support about smoking cessation, call the WS4 Dental Care team on 01922 622877 or visit www.ws4dentalcare.co.uk