Drop that smoking habit for that picture-ready smile

11/16/2007

Filipinos are known to love having their photos taken. In this digital age where cameras have shrunk to the size of calling cards and most mobile phones (another Filipino must-have!) sport photo snappers, practically every occasion is documented—from the most grandiose to the most ordinary. Given the 24/7 likelihood of getting your picture taken, looking great in these photos then is important. To look even better, one should be ready to flash a picture-ready smile.

According to a study done by a group of dental researchers in the United Kingdom, statistics show that smokers are six times likely to develop gum disease than non-smokers thereby ruining one’s look. The smoking habit has been proven to cause chronic gum disease, which eventually leads to premature tooth loss. If you’re one of those people who love to smile for the camera, you’d be better off not smoking.

Smoking decreases the ability of your immune system to fight infection and makes your gums and all other bones and muscles for that matter, susceptible to disease and infection. When this happens, your teeth become loose and fall out.

If the threat of chronic gum disease isn’t enough, smokers can say goodbye to their pearly whites as smoking contributes a lot to stained teeth. Smoking stains teeth, even in a span of a few years due to tar and other chemicals. Most of this stain can be removed in the early years, but as time goes on, staining spreads deeper into the surface of teeth, making it very difficult to remove. Eventually, the teeth become permanently blemished.

“Smoking poses numerous dangers to your dental health, and it is important to realize that your dental health is an important factor to your overall health. Weak gums and teeth may affect the way you eat; it may even affect your disposition. Stained teeth on the other hand affects one’s confidence,” said Dr. Brenda S. Dey, dean of the University of the East College of Dentistry.

Dey added, “Refraining from smoking or quitting completely could do wonders to your teeth. With enough discipline and regular visits to the dentist, you can save your teeth. Not smoking at all is still the best practice for healthier teeth and gums.”

Smokers who intend to preserve their teeth, may it be for that photo opportunity, meetings with important people or simply for their own good have a better chance of quitting the smoking habit.

Nicorette (nicotine) gum, a form of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), doubles one’s chances of successfully quitting smoking. It works by providing the body with the nicotine it craves without all the harmful chemicals found in a cigarette such as tar and carbon monoxide.

Cutting down to stop with the help of NRT allows the smoker to take control of his cravings during the quitting process since stopping a habit that has taken years to form isn’t easy for a lot of people. It is characterized by lessening the number of cigarettes smoked with the goal of stopping completely.

Nicotine gum has been clinically proven to be safe and effective to use and is one of the NRT products recommended by the World Health Organization.

Nicorette can be purchased over the counter in all Mercury Drugstores nationwide. For more information on Nicorette, log on to www.nicorette.com.ph.

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