Stoptober: Quit Smoking for Your Health, Your Smile and Your Future
October is Stoptober – a great opportunity to take the first step towards quitting smoking.
If you smoke, you probably already know that giving up is one of the best things you can do for your health. But did you know that quitting can make a real difference to your teeth, gums and overall oral health too?
This Stoptober, we're encouraging our patients to consider giving up smoking – and, importantly, to remember that you don't have to do it alone.
Why is smoking bad for your oral health?
Smoking can have a significant impact on your mouth.
It increases your risk of gum disease, which can cause swollen or bleeding gums and, in more advanced cases, damage the bone supporting your teeth. Smoking can also affect how your gums heal and how well you respond to gum disease treatment.
Smoking is also one of the major risk factors for mouth cancer.
What happens when you stop smoking?
The good news is that your body starts to benefit from stopping smoking very quickly.
Over time, your circulation and breathing can improve, and your senses of taste and smell can become stronger. Giving up smoking can also help your mouth by removing one of the major risk factors for gum disease.
And there's another benefit you might notice: your smile can look and feel healthier.
Smoking can contribute to stained teeth, bad breath and a build-up of plaque and tartar. While quitting won't remove existing staining or tartar on its own, it can help you maintain a healthier mouth going forward.
Make it 28 days this Stoptober
The NHS Stoptober campaign encourages smokers to quit for 28 days.
If you can make it through those first four weeks, you're five times more likely to quit for good.
That might sound daunting, particularly if you've tried to quit before. But don't let previous attempts put you off. It's never too late to try again.
This time, you don't have to do it alone.
Get support to quit smoking
One of the best things you can do is get some support.
For patients in Wales, Help Me Quit is the NHS stop-smoking service. It provides free support to help you plan your quit attempt, manage cravings and find the right approach for you.
You can contact Help Me Quit directly:
Call: 0800 085 2219
Text: HMQ to 80818
Website: https://helpmequit.wales/
You can also speak to your GP or pharmacist about the different options available to help you stop smoking.
Tried before? Give it another go.
Quitting smoking isn't always easy, and it's completely normal to need more than one attempt.
Think about what made previous attempts difficult. Was it stress? Social situations? Certain times of the day? Once you know your triggers, you can start planning how you'll deal with them.
You could:
Choose a quit date and stick to it.
Tell friends and family that you're quitting.
Ask someone close to you for support.
Think about the situations that make you want to smoke.
Have a plan for dealing with cravings.
Get free support from Help Me Quit.
Talk to your GP or pharmacist about stop-smoking treatments.
Every smoke-free day is a step in the right direction.
A healthier future starts today
From 1 January 2027, new tobacco age-of-sale legislation will mean that tobacco products cannot legally be sold to people born on or after 1 January 2009.
The aim is to help create a future generation that doesn't become addicted to smoking. But if you already smoke, you don't need to wait for the future to make a change.
You can start today.
Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health – and it's an important step towards protecting your teeth, gums and mouth.
This Stoptober, give your smile something to smile about.
If you're concerned about your gums, have noticed changes in your mouth, or simply want some advice about looking after your oral health while you quit smoking, speak to our dental team at your next appointment.
And if you're ready to quit, remember: you don't have to do it alone.
Let's quit smoking together this Stoptober.
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