We see the adverse effects of tobacco use in the form of tooth decay, halitosis, gum disease, and tooth discoloration, and we routinely screen for one of its more serious side effects - oral cancer. As you may know, nicotine and tar, the addictive, toxic, and carcinogenic ingredients in tobacco, cause other life-threatening conditions as well, including:
As if the reasons above weren't enough, smokers may also develop depression, psychological distress, sexual dysfunction, and cosmetic side effects such as skin wrinkling. Pregnant women who smoke risk low birth weight and birth defects in their babies. Pipe and cigar smokers shouldn't kid themselves either. There is no such thing as safe smoke. Cigar and pipe aficionados could face oral cancer, esophageal cancer, and laryngeal cancer, just as cigarette smokers do.
This deadly habit endangers the lives of your friends and loved ones, too. Secondhand smoke causes 3,000 lung cancer deaths each year and researchers link it to heart disease. In addition, children and babies exposed to tobacco smoke tend to suffer from ear infections and asthma, and may be at greater risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Nobody wants to endanger their own life or the lives of friends and loved ones, but smoking cessation - breaking the habit - may seem insurmountable. Seeking help is a big step in the right direction and Hudson Valley Dental Arts can arm you with the tools you need to successfully quit smoking. With commitment, a plan, perseverance, and our smoking cessation therapy, you'll soon reap the health rewards that non-smokers enjoy.
We care about your health and encourage you to focus on the benefits of smoking cessation therapy. You'll soon take pleasure in a whiter, brighter smile, decreased plaque and tartar buildup, and a decreased risk of developing gum disease, oral cancer, and painful mouth lesions called leukoplakia. As our patient, we want you to enjoy life to the fullest. Put out that cigarette and call today to schedule a smoking cessation therapy consultation.
Visit Hudson Valley Dental Arts and learn what makes our practice unique. Dr. Hamburg provides high-quality family dentistry and cosmetic dentistry to patients from the Poughkeepsie, Hopewell Junction, Wappingers Falls, Pleasant Valley, and Beekman areas. We’re enhancing lives one smile at a time!