Tips to Quit Smoking

Not everyone is successful when they try to quit smoking. In fact, almost 70 percent of smokers want to quit, but few actually succeed. Smoking not only leads to problems for your overall health, it leads to dental problems as well. Our doctors at Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. don’t want you to fall victim of tooth discoloration, gum disease, and/or oral cancer, which is why we’ve rounded up some tips to help you stop smoking.

It’s safe to say that not all quitting techniques for work for everyone and many people may come up with their own methods that work better for them, but the American Dental Association suggests five steps to help you put the pack down.

1. Have a Plan – Reflect on why you want to quit in the first place. Are you doing it for you? Are you doing it for your loved ones? Are you doing it for your health? Once you’ve made up your mind on why you want to quit smoking, set the date and develop a plan.
2. Don’t Do it Alone – Whether you need a little extra help from your dentist, a therapist, or friends, it’s important to have support when you attempt to quit smoking because this will maximize your chance of succeeding.
3. Stay Busy – Exercise, do yoga, make plans for dinner with some non-smoker friends. Additionally, chew on sugarless gum to keep your mouth busy and prevent cavities.
4. Avoid Smoking Triggers – Stay away from people, places, and things that trigger your craving to light up.
5. Reward Your Accomplishments – The same way you give your dog a treat for being obedient, reward yourself for every hour or day that you go without a cigarette. With all the money you’ll be saving on quitting, you may be able to treat yourself to a nice vacation.

If you need assistance to quit smoking, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.