We all know that smoking is still the leading cause of premature death in Canada, but aside from the death threat, what else can you look forward to as a smoker? It’s a pretty attractive list let me tell you!
- Persistent bad breath • Discoloured teeth • An increase in calculus (tartar) build-up • Periodontal (gum and bone) disease that may progress more quickly and be more severe than in non-smokers • Jaw bone loss • Shifting teeth • An increased number of missing teeth • Oral cancers • Mouth sores • Root caries (cavities) • Sinusitis • Hairy tongue • Smoker’s lip (like a burn) • Altered sense of taste and smell • Delayed wound healing
Now if that doesn’t make you appealing to others, I’m not sure what will. And there’s always the added benefit of harming all of the people around you! Fantastic!
So life is short and you want to enjoy it (and you can’t find the will power to win the fight)? Why not enjoy smelling great food and the freshness of the outdoors instead? And what about having the lung capacity to run with your kids? Not to mention setting a healthy example for them. And I bet if you were to ask your loved ones, they would argue that having you around in their life longer would definitely be worth your effort. We’d love to argue that point with Dr. Dodds‘ dad, who passed away too early due to a lifetime of smoking.
A few helpful ideas if you want to start living your life more fully…
The Four D’s*
1. Drink Water – Water with crushed ice helps flush nicotine out of your system faster and helps satisfy oral cravings.
2. Deep Breathing – Take a “deep breath break” instead of a cigarette break – Take 10 deep breaths and hold the last one while lighting a match. Exhale slowly, and blow out the match.
3. Delay – Each day, delay lighting your first cigarette by one hour. When you have your next craving, delay for another 15 or 30 minutes. Now YOU will be in control!
4. Do Something Different – When you have a craving, change your activity. Get out of the situation that makes you want to smoke. *Adapted from “Tips To Help You Quit”
– The Lung Association
