The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is calling on dental staff to use the annual health campaign as an opportunity to promote quit aids in their practice and signpost smokers to local support services.
In a poll carried out for the BHF ahead of No Smoking Day almost half of the 2000 smokers (47 per cent) questioned admitted they were concerned about the impact smoking has on their teeth. However, a recent survey for the British Dental Health Foundation found that there was still limited awareness about the effects of smoking on oral health with one in four people not realising that it is the leading cause of mouth cancer, a disease that kills one person every five hours in the UK.
Research shows the majority of smokers will experience multiple quit attempts before they’re able to give cigarettes up for good. This year’s No Smoking Day has a ‘V for Victory’ theme which is set to inspire hundreds of thousands of smokers to win the fight against cigarettes.
The campaign will help smokers on the road to victory, providing information, support and encouragement to put together a personal battle plan so that they are in the best possible position to make a successful quit attempt on the day.
Dr Mike Knapton, associate medical director at the BHF, said: “Dentists and dental staff play a leading role in raising awareness of No Smoking Day and advising and supporting their patients to give up smoking.
“Having a sensitive discussion with a dentist about the benefits of quitting could be the nudge a smoker needs to take steps towards a healthier, smoke free life.
“There are lots of things that dental practices can do to boost participation on the day from organising events to decorating waiting areas with posters and banners. We hope dentists continue to get involved next year and help to inspire more smokers to stub out their cigarettes for good.”
Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said: “Smoking presents a very real danger to the public’s oral and overall health. Dentists find themselves in a unique position to warn patients of the risks of smoking, which causes tooth staining and exacerbates gum disease – which has been linked to diabetes, heart problems and strokes.
“Tobacco use is also linked to around three-quarters of all cases of mouth cancer. Placed on top of all the health concerns surrounding smoking, these risks stress the importance of campaigns such as No Smoking Day, and the Foundation wholeheartedly supports the campaign.”
Around ten million people in the UK smoke but research shows two-thirds want to give up. Last year No Smoking Day encouraged a million smokers to make a quit attempt.
Dentists can download a free organiser’s pack including posters, leaflets and a handbook - available for dentists to help them organise No Smoking Day events and activities at nosmokingday.org.uk join on twitter by using the hashtag #NoSmokingDay